Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Naomi Shihab Nye’s "Bill’s Beans; For William Stafford" is a tribute to the poet William Stafford, rendered through the metaphor of tending, harvesting, and consuming beans. The poem is structured in free verse, allowing for a natural, meditative rhythm that mirrors the quiet reverence of its subject. It embodies a sense of continuity—between land and labor, between the poet and her mentor, and between the living and the departed.

The opening lines immediately ground the reader in the sensory world of gardening: "Under the leaves, they’re long and curling. / I pull a perfect question mark and two lean twins, / feeling the magnetic snap of stem, the ripened weight." The “long and curling” beans introduce an image of organic growth, emphasizing the patience required to nurture something to fruition. The metaphor of the “perfect question mark” suggests both the shape of the bean and a larger sense of inquiry, fitting for a poem dedicated to Stafford, a poet known for his quiet wisdom and reflective style. The “magnetic snap of stem” is a tactile moment that underscores the relationship between the gardener and the earth, between the poet and the act of creation.

Nye shifts from this immediate act of harvesting to a broader contemplation: "At the end of a day, the earth smells thirsty." This line personifies the earth, implying that it, too, has needs—just as poets, like Stafford, tend to the hunger of words and meaning. The acknowledgment of thirst also introduces the theme of loss. The next lines confirm Stafford’s absence: "He left his brown hat, his shovel, and his pen." These three objects—each representing different aspects of labor and expression—form a poignant still life of the poet’s presence in his absence. The “brown hat” suggests a physical trace of the man, the “shovel” signifies his engagement with the land, and the “pen” symbolizes his dedication to writing.

The poem then wonders about the unseen, hidden depths of Stafford’s influence: "I don’t know how deep bean roots go. / We could experiment." This line is both literal and metaphorical. On one level, it expresses curiosity about the natural world, but on another, it suggests a desire to understand how deeply Stafford’s teachings and poetic philosophy continue to resonate. The proposal to “experiment” conveys an openness to discovery, mirroring Stafford’s own approach to poetry as an ongoing conversation with the world.

The shift to landscape expands the tribute: "He left the sky over Oregon and the fluent trees." Oregon, Stafford’s home, becomes emblematic of his legacy—something vast, enduring, and alive. The phrase “fluent trees” recalls Stafford’s effortless, flowing language, as if the trees themselves have inherited his poetic voice. The idea of fluency here suggests a natural, unbroken transmission of wisdom.

The most profound moment of the poem comes in the lines: "He gave us our lives that were hiding under our feet, / saying, You know what to do." Here, Nye positions Stafford as a guide, one who revealed the richness of life and language beneath the surface. The phrase “hiding under our feet” implies that meaning and sustenance are always present but require attention and care to unearth—just like beans, just like poetry. The direct quotation, "You know what to do," is particularly striking, as it conveys a trust in those he left behind. Stafford’s teachings were not rigid directives but rather an invitation to continue the work with confidence.

The final lines return to the act of eating the beans: "So we’ll take these beans / back into the house and steam them. / We’ll eat them one by one with our fingers, / the clean click and freshness." This moment is intimate and ritualistic, emphasizing the sensory appreciation of something simple and nourishing. The “clean click” suggests the sound of beans being bitten into, reinforcing a connection to the tangible world.

The poem closes with an expression of eternal gratitude: "We’ll thank him forever for our breath, / and the brevity of bean." The word "breath" evokes both life itself and the breath of poetry, while "the brevity of bean" acknowledges the fleeting nature of individual moments. The choice of “brevity” aligns with Stafford’s poetic style—spare, unpretentious, yet deeply resonant. The final line serves as a meditation on how something small—a bean, a poem, a life—can hold immense significance.

Through its simplicity and quiet reverence, "Bill’s Beans; For William Stafford" embodies the spirit of Stafford’s poetry. The free verse structure allows Nye’s reflections to unfold organically, just as beans grow naturally under the leaves. The imagery of harvesting, cooking, and eating is both literal and metaphorical, reinforcing the idea that poetry, like nourishment, sustains us beyond the life of the poet. The poem honors Stafford not by grand statements but by continuing the work—acknowledging the roots he left behind and carrying his lessons forward, one bean, one breath, one poem at a time.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...