Kim Stafford is the founding director of the Northwest Writing Institute, and author of a dozen books of poetry and prose, most recently Wild Honey, Tough Salt (Red Hen Press, 2019). In 2018 he was named Oregon Poet Laureate by Gov. Kate Brown.
I Am the Seed
Every chance I get, any place I fit,
in a cleft of grit, in ravine or pit
by ancient wit my husk I split—
I am the seed.
I fell to the ground without a sound,
by rainfall drowned, by sunlight found,
by wonder crowned, by luck profound—
I am the seed.
After fiery thief, after bout of grief,
though life is brief I sprout relief,
with tiny leaf, beyond belief—
I am the seed.
Up I rise to seek the prize
from all that dies, by bold surprise,
before your eyes, small and wise—
I am the seed.
I am the seed, small as a bead.
Tell me your need. Your hunger I’ll feed—
any trouble you’re in, I will begin,
for I am the seed.
