Proclamation for Peace
Whereas the world is a house on fire;
Whereas the nations are filled with shouting;
Whereas hope seems small, sometimes
a single bird on a wire left by
migration behind.
Whereas kindness is seldom in the news
and peace an abstraction
while war is real;
Whereas words are all I have;
Whereas my life is short;
Whereas I am afraid;
Whereas I am free—despite all
fire and anger and fear;
Be it therefore resolved a song
shall be my calling—a song
not yet made shall be vocation
and peaceful words the work
of my remaining days.
Kim Stafford is a writer in Oregon who teaches and travels to raise the human spirit. He founded the Northwest Writing Institute in 1986, and co-founded the Fishtrap Writers Gathering in 1987. He is the author of a dozen books of poetry and prose, including Having Everything Right: Essays of Place and Singer Come from Afar.
In 2018, Gov. Kate Brown named him Oregon’s ninth poet laureate, and he visited over a hundred groups statewide to share the reading and writing of poetry. He has taught writing in dozens of schools and colleges, and in Scotland, Italy, Mexico, and Bhutan.
Featured Image: Photo by Mabel Amber via Pixabay
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Thank you, Sherrey, for posting this lovely poem. I wonder if Kim perchance is a relative of the poet William Stafford??
Shirley, you are welcome for the posting of Kim Stafford’s poem. I felt we needed a bit of peace and hope these days. Yes, Kim is William Stafford’s son. I enjoy the writings of both men.
Such a lovely, heart-lifting poem. Thank you for sharing it.
Marie, I’m glad you found this poem heart-lifting. I felt the world needed a lift after the last couple of weeks. And those who experience chronic pain always need a lift of some kind. Good luck to you!
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