William Stafford—When I Met My Muse

When I Met My Muse

I glanced at her and took my glasses
off—they were still singing. They buzzed
like a locust on the coffee table and then
ceased. Her voice belled forth, and the
sunlight bent. I felt the ceiling arch, and
knew that nails up there took a new grip
on whatever they touched. “I am your own
way of looking at things,” she said. “When
you allow me to live with you, every
glance at the world around you will be
a sort of salvation.” And I took her hand.

—William Stafford,  You Must Revise Your Life

6 Responses to “William Stafford—When I Met My Muse”

  1. William Stafford—Ask Me | The Uncarved Blog Says:

    […] poem, Ask Me. It’s one of my favorite Stafford poems along with The Way It Is, You and Art, When I Met My Muse, and many more posted on my […]

    Like

  2. Mary Oliver’s poem, Sunrise, gives us a larger, wiser perspective on life | The Uncarved Blog Says:

    […] Mary Oliver is definitely in touch with her muse, is at one with her. It reminds me of a line in this great little poem by William Stafford—When I Met My Muse. […]

    Like

  3. John O’Donohue's 4 short lines say it all for poets | The Uncarved Blog Says:

    […] William Stafford expressed the same notion in his talks and poems of being innocent, spontaneous, and responding creatively in the moment: A Course in Creative Writing, You and Art, and When I Met My Muse. […]

    Like

  4. Coincidences happened that introduced me to the great Ojibway storyteller Richard Wagamese | The Uncarved Blog Says:

    […] every morning to write before sunrise. Although similar in theme, but not as profound, his poem, When I Met My Muse, is more […]

    Like

  5. William Stafford prescribed creative writing to find your own voice and reveal your inner light | The Uncarved Blog Says:

    […] on the teaching of writing poetry to be very relevant. Here are a few that caught my attention: When I Met My Muse, You and Art, Ask Me, and A Course in Creative […]

    Like

  6. William Stafford’s poetry lightened his life having woven a parachute out of everything broken. | The Uncarved Blog Says:

    […] approach to teaching writing on The Uncarved Blog. A few of those poems that stand out for me are: When I Met My Muse, You and Art, Ask Me, The Way It Is, A Course in Creative Writing, and Rx Creative Writing: […]

    Like

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