As far as needed

Perhaps the essence of fatherhood, captured in this William Stafford poem for his daughter, Kit.

This Life

With Kit, Age 7, at the Beach

We would climb the highest dune,
from there to gaze and come down:
the ocean was performing;
we contributed our climb.

Waves leapfrogged and came
straight out of the storm.
What should our gaze mean?
Kit waited for me to decide.

Standing on such a hill,
what would you tell your child?
That was an absolute vista.
Those waves raced far, and cold.

“How far could you swim, Daddy,
in such a storm?”
“As far as was needed,” I said,
and as I talked, I swam.

William Stafford

William Stafford was appointed Oregon’s Poet Laureate in 1975, and served for almost 20 years.