The Shed Notebook: National Poetry Month: Ending With William Stafford

I have enjoyed celebrating National Poetry Month by revisiting favorite poems, finding new poems, and sharing my love for poetry on the blog. I am going to wrap up my poetry poets today with this poem by William Stafford. I have taught this poem, I have read and reread this poem, I have shared this poem often, and have always loved it. It provides the reader with a simple reminder. Be present. Capture this moment now and embrace it, then "keep it for life".

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 evening
all that you want from this day. This 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?