To the current series of visiting poets,
the Ruth Stephan Poetry Center is particularly delighted
tonight to present the eminent American poet, William
Stafford.
Born in Kansas, Mr. Stafford was educated
at the University of Kansas and the State University of Iowa,
where he earned a PhD in 1953.
He has taught, read, and lectured widely
at American and Canadian universities,
the Guggenheim Museum in New York,
and the Library of Congress.
He is at present professor of English
at Lewis & Clark College in Oregon.
William Stafford books include, Down In My Heart, 1948,
West of Your City, 1960, Traveling
Through The Dark, 1962, and The Rescued Year, 1966.
His third book of poems, Traveling Through The Dark,
received the National Book Award for the most distinguished work
of poetry by an American author in 1962.
Among his many other prizes have been the Shelley Memorial
Award, the Iago Fellowship, and the Guggenheim Foundation
Award.
It is my distinct pleasure to introduce
to you now William Stafford.
[APPLAUSE]