Learning to Live in the World: Earth Poems by William Stafford

Learning to Live in the World: Earth Poems by William Stafford

A poetry collection by the late author of The Animal That Drank Up Sound reflects his struggles with the world and his respect for the earth. Grade 6 Up-Fifty short observations of interrelationships in the natural world from the published work of a National Book Award-winning poet. Stafford uses simple, formal, passionate language; less-practiced readers will have to wrestle with some of his imagery ("Coyotes are circling around our truth"; "We bow, and/the voice that falls through the rapids/calls all the rocks by their secret names"), but most ideas and feelings are insightful and expressed clearly ("The world looks/tame, but it might go wild, any time"). Though the poet writes with almost unbearable poignancy about death, his ultimate message is a celebratory one: "...you're not alone./The whole wide world pours down." A worthy addition to collections serving large populations of poetry readers, or to those supporting strong Earth-studies programs. John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. Gr. 8-12. With their casual tone and simple words, these 50 nature poems by Stafford will show that poetry can capture that elusive moment when ordinary things connect. A dandelion puff, "a nothing that follows the slightest wind," lands on your sweater sleeve "and your life becomes important again." The poems of solitude will appeal to teens who love the wilderness, but it's the human bonds that may move readers most: the guilty memory of a hurt you did your brother, the longing for a friend far away. Stafford has always been an important presence in Paul Janeczko's fine YA anthologies; this selection is for those who want more of this lyrical poet but aren't yet ready for his huge collected works. Hazel Rochman