Poem of the Day: "Walking West" by William E. Stafford, Poet of the Month

The Songs of Eretz Poem of the Day for July 28, 2014 is "Walking West" by William E. Stafford, Poet of the Month.  In addition to the reviews this month, Mr. Stafford's work has been examined previously here:  http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/2014/04/poem-of-day-once-in-40s-by-william.html, where a brief biography and references may be found.  The text of "Walking West" may be found here:  http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171505.

"Walking West" is a contemporary ballad, having the quatrains and tetrameter of the traditional form.  In place of the traditional rhyme scheme, the poem is filled with rich alliteration and consonance.  The conceit of walking in the footsteps of God is powerful, as are the beautiful metaphor of the wind as a river, and the image and delightful consonance of the "hawk on a stick."