The Thread - William Stafford

There's a thread you follow.  It goes among
things that change.  But it doesn't change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can't get lost.

Tragedies happen, people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you can do to stop time's unfolding.
You don't ever let go of the thread.

William Stafford
from - The Way It Is, 1998

William Stafford's journey with words began most
mornings before sunrise.  This simple poem was
written 26 days before he passed.

One of his students, the poet Naomi Shihab Nye wrote:
"In our time there has been no poet who revived human
hearts and spirits more convincingly than William Stafford.
There has been no one who gave more courage to a
journey with words, and silence, and an awakened life."

with thanks to The Beauty We Love

~

Photo - from the Internet
This is an actual bridge in Vietnam
color digitally altered