William Stafford: For My Young Friends Who Are Afraid
For My Young Friends Who Are Afraid
There is a country to cross you will
find in the corner of your eye, in
the quick slip of your foot--air far
down, a snap that might have caught.
And maybe for you, for me, a high, passing
voice that finds its way by being
afraid. That country is there, for us,
carried as it is crossed. What you fear
will not go away: it will take you into
yourself and bless you and keep you.
That's the world, and we all live there.
Discussion Questions
What does William Stafford mean when he writes about “the country”?
COVID-19 has brought up a wide range of emotions; one enduring theme has been fear. Are there lessons you have learned from the fears that arose for you during this pandemic?
While adversity can lead to trauma, it sometimes leads to positive changes - a process that has been called “posttraumatic growth.” What are some ways that you hope to change? What changes do you hope to see in healthcare/society?
Reflections from #MedHumChat
“I think that it's the space within ourselves that has the capacity to grow. The person crossing through that country is carrying older versions of themselves as they move through challenging situations and change”—@DianaCejasMD
“Now more than ever, it's important to understand others' viewpoints. My aging grandparents are afraid that the end of their lives will be in miserable isolation, while I'm afraid of them ending up on a ventilator if I come visit. Weighing the harm from isolation with the risk of harm from disease is a tough one. Isolation has a 100% risk of small(ish) harm, disease is only a possibility. On top of that, they haven't seen ICU patients and don't know what my fears really are.”—@dkatsMD
“I think 1 of the things that this has demonstrated for me is the fact that, for better or for worse, we cannot continue to believe that our actions don't impact others. I spend so much time with my patients talking about how what may be a simple outing for them can be absolutely detrimental to others due to how this works. I've also been heartbroken to see just how dramatically this had affected those of lower SES, people of color, and indigenous people-- this inequity has been here since our country even began”—@rayesenbran
About this #MedHumChat
“For My Young Friends Who Are Afraid” was paired with the short story “Trauma Plate” by Adam Johnson for a #MedHumChat discussion on May 20, 2020 exploring Emotional Strength While Facing Uncertainty.
The pieces for this chat as well as the accompanying discussion questions were curated by Margot Hedlin, MD (@MargotHedlin).
About the Author
William Stafford (1914 - 1993) was an American poet and pacifist who was a prolific writer, publishing fifty-seven volumes of poetry, for which he won many awards.