Wawona, CA. November 2013
We were fortunate enough to be able to spend most of last week in Yosemite. Though all seasons are wonderful there, late fall is my favorite in the Sierras. It had recently snowed, and another storm was said to be moving in, but our days were mild, and the winter light was on fire. Wherever I walked, a poem by William Stafford accompanied me.
Wawona, CA. November, 2013
Assurance by William Stafford
You will never be alone, you hear so deep
a sound when autumn comes. Yellow
pulls across the hills and thrums,
or the silence after lightening before it says
its names- and then the clouds’ wide-mouthed
apologies. You were aimed from birth:
you will never be alone. Rain
will come, a gutter filled, an Amazon,
long aisles- you never heard so deep a sound,
moss on rock, and years. You turn your head-
that’s what the silence meant: you’re not alone.
The whole wide world pours down.
– from The Way It Is, Graywolf Press, 1999
Yosemite Valley, November 2013
You will never be alone, you hear so deep
a sound when autumn comes.
Yosemite Valley, November 2013
Yosemite Valley, November, 2013
Yellow pulls across the hills and thrums
Yosemite Valley, November, 2013
You were aimed from birth:
you will never be alone.
Yosemite Valley, November, 2013
You turn your head-
that’s what the silence meant: you’re not alone.
Wawona, CA. November, 2013
The whole wide world pours down.
The First Gates 
Great blog!
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Thanks for the visit and kind comment.
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So lovely, the poem, the pictures and knowing where we are and that we are accompanied. Thank you!
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Thank you. It was a pleasure to share both the poem and the photos.
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Beautiful poem, thank you
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You’re welcome. Stafford is one of my favorite poets.
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A beautiful post. Yosemite is our family’s favorite national park. Will be going back over Christmas to see it transformed once again.
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That sounds great, Malcolm. I first went there with my family when I was 12, and later, had the privilege of taking a photography workshop with Ansel Adams. Should be a wonderful Christmas for you.
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Thanks, Morgan. This was just what I needed this morning. I love the photos and the poem, one with which I was not familiar.
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I just came upon the poem recently, and it fit with the season so well!
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It remains as one of my favorite roles for all three of the top stars, plus there’s a brief appearance by Jack Lemmon – his last, since he died the following year. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!
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I am from the Philippines. My search for William Stafford poems led me to your lovely blog with these lovely photographs of Yosemite. Warm regards from my part of the world!
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Thanks Benedict. I’m glad you enjoy the blog. I too love William Stafford’s poems!
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