William Stafford Time Quotations

Next time what I'd do is look at the earth before saying anything. I'd stop just before going into a house and be an emperor for a minute and listen better to the wind or to the air being still.

Next time what I'd do is look atthe earth before saying anything. I'd stopjust before going into a houseand be an emperor for a minuteand listen better to the windor to the air being still.

We are led one thing at a time to that pure gain -- all that we lose.

They tell how it was, and how time came along, and how it happened again and again. They tell the slant life takes when it turns and slashes your face as a friend.

Some time when the river is ice ask me mistakes I have made. Ask me whether what I have done is my life. Others have come in their slow way into my thought, and some have tried to help or to hurt: ask me what difference their strongest love or hate has made.

Some time when the river is ice ask memistakes I have made. Ask me whetherwhat I have done is my life. Othershave come in their slow way intomy thought, and some have tried to helpor to hurt: ask me what differencetheir strongest love or hate has made.

And sometimes when they look in the fire they see time going on and someone alone, but they don't say anything.

And sometimes when they look in the firethey see time going on and someone alone,but they don't say anything.

It is time for all the heroes to go home if they have any, time for all of us common ones to locate ourselves by the real things we live by.

It is time for all the heroes to go homeif they have any, time for all of us common onesto locate ourselves by the real thingswe live by.

And all the time it's your own story, even when you think -- "It's all just made up, a trick. What is the author trying to do?" Reader, we are in such a story: all of this is trying to arrange a kind of prayer for you. Pray for me.