<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">The Way It Is</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">There is a thread you follow. It goes among</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">things that change. But it doesn't change.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">People wonder about what things you are pursuing.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">You have to explain about the thread.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">But it is hard for others to see.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">While you hold it you can't get lost.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">Tragedies happen; people get hurt</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">or die; and you suffer and get old.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">Nothing you do can stop time's unfolding.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">But you don't ever let go of the thread.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class=""> - William Stafford</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">
<div class=""><div style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;" class=""><br class=""></div></div></div></div></body></html>