William Stafford

INTERVIEWER

Do you have a sense of having accomplished what you set out to do?

STAFFORD

No. Not at all. This may sound brutal, but I don’t cherish the poems that are done. I cherish the poems that are coming. I’d sacrifice all the poems of the past for whatever is coming up. It’s not a feeling of either satisfaction, or progress, or defending them. As far as I’m concerned, they’re in the world to make a living for themselves if they can do it. I’m not going to do anything for them.

- William Stafford, Paris Review Interview