Ask Me

1. Ask Me Written by: William Stafford Presented by: Sarah Ganger

2. Ask Me Some time when the river is ice ask memistakes I have made. Ask me whetherwhat I have done is my life. Othershave come in their slow way intomy thought, and some have tried to helpor to hurt: ask me what differencetheir strongest love or hate has made.I will listen to what you say.You and I can turn and lookat the silent river and wait. We knowthe current is there, hidden; and thereare comings and goings from miles awaythat hold the stillness exactly before us.What the river says, that is what I say.

3. Initial Reaction • Whoa… that’s deep… beautiful. • P.S. …… What is the river saying?!? Some time when the river is ice ask memistakes I have made. Ask me whetherwhat I have done is my life. Othershave come in their slow way intomy thought, and some have tried to helpor to hurt: ask me what differencetheir strongest love or hate has made.I will listen to what you say.You and I can turn and lookat the silent river and wait. We knowthe current is there, hidden; and thereare comings and goings from miles awaythat hold the stillness exactly before us.What the river says, that is what I say.

4. Metaphors, symbolism, alliteration, similes, and irony. • I saw no metaphor, alliteration, similes, or irony. • However… • “What the river says, that is what I say.” • The river is a symbol for the lesson being taught. • The poem poses a question, then describes the river. The last line tells us that the river symbolizes the answer. (But, again… what does the river say?!) Some time when the river is ice ask memistakes I have made. Ask me whetherwhat I have done is my life. Othershave come in their slow way intomy thought, and some have tried to helpor to hurt: ask me what differencetheir strongest love or hate has made.I will listen to what you say.You and I can turn and lookat the silent river and wait. We knowthe current is there, hidden; and thereare comings and goings from miles awaythat hold the stillness exactly before us.What the river says, that is what I say.

5. Toneand Speaker • The speaker is contemplative and at peace. Challenging, yet yielding almost. • “Some time when the river is ice ask me / mistakes I have made.” • “I will listen to what you say.You and I can turn and lookat the silent river and wait.” • Who is speaking? • Good question. I imagine the speaker to be like a mentor teaching a lesson. Perhaps simply a wise person, who has lived their life and is reflecting and explaining their revelation. Some time when the river is ice ask memistakes I have made. Ask me whetherwhat I have done is my life. Othershave come in their slow way intomy thought, and some have tried to helpor to hurt: ask me what differencetheir strongest love or hate has made.I will listen to what you say.You and I can turn and lookat the silent river and wait. We knowthe current is there, hidden; and thereare comings and goings from miles awaythat hold the stillness exactly before us.What the river says, that is what I say.

6. Style • The poem is written in first-person and in future tense. • Stafford entices and engages the readers challenging them with “ask me” multiple times. • He also holds the readers attention by using “us” “we” “You” etc. • “You and I can turn and look […]” • ”We know the current is there[…]” • ”[…]that hold the stillness exactly before us.” Some time when the river is ice ask memistakes I have made. Ask me whetherwhat I have done is my life. Othershave come in their slow way intomy thought, and some have tried to helpor to hurt: ask me what differencetheir strongest love or hate has made.I will listen to what you say.You and I can turn and lookat the silent river and wait. We knowthe current is there, hidden; and thereare comings and goings from miles awaythat hold the stillness exactly before us.What the river says, that is what I say.