Stafford Response

I think Stafford meant, “The Life of a Poem” to be the process it takes to come to a finalized product. He obviously has many thoughts and ideas in which he remembers and later puts down on paper. He takes his time to choose the best vocabulary and wording to make the most impact on the reader. I do agree that all writing, in some ways, have a life of their own. Even if it is an assigned essay that must be researched instead of just thought out, the process it takes to get from point A to point B in a paper can at times be lengthy and other times it can be short. It’s a lot like life in that it can sometimes be short, so you have to use the abilities and resources available to write the best you can with the experience you have.

William Stafford

The man himself, Stafford, is definitely a very serene character. It seems he uses his calm mood to write his poetry. I think many people can learn to be more calm people from reading his words, and even watching interviews with him about his writing style.

          

I believe that much can be learned from Stafford’s words. He obviously firmly believes that anyone can write, it’s just having the drive and state of mind to do so. In the video you can see him taking a nature walk of sorts to gain inspiration, which I believe is his way of researching. As a graduate student goes through experiences to research for a thesis to graduate, Stafford uses his walks to gain stimulation to write his poetry and share it with people.