Friday, December 23, 2011

You Reading This, Be Ready. by. William Stafford

Starting here, what do you want to remember?
How sunlight creeps along a shining floor?
What scent of old wood hovers, what softened
Sound from outside fills the air?

Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
Than the breathing respect that you carry
Wherever you go right now? Are you waiting
for time to show you some better thoughts?

When you turn around, starting here, lift this
New glimpse that you found; carry into the evening
all that you want from this day. The interval you spent
reading or hearing this, keep it for life-

What can anyone give you greater than now,
starting here, right in this room, when you turn around?

2 comments:

  1. Well, it begins here;
    A friend shared the piece with me a year or so ago. The tears that
    Streamed down my face affirmed his belief that he had seen elements of my story within these lines.
    Poets hear poetry. Near as can figure these words arrived at my ears just at the time my heart was ready to translate.

    NOW... Let's begin this next adventure with a burst of love my beautiful friends and family.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bring it on, Paul! Looking forward to reading your adventure story!!!

    ReplyDelete