David Stallings is a poet, hiker, Zen student and father from Bainbridge Island, Washington. He was born in the South, raised in Alaska and Colorado before moving to Bainbridge Island 35 years ago.
He was once married, has one child, a daughter, who has taught him much of value. He completed a Ph.D. in social geography, which he taught in the Midwest and at the University of Washington. Professionally, he currently works to develop expanded markets for public transportation in the Puget Sound area.
He has written a poem almost every day for many years, adopting William Stafford’s advice to “lower your standards” in order to do so. He occasionally is fortunate enough to publish a poem or give a poetry reading. Much of his writing involves an ongoing conversation with the 8th century Chinese hermit poet, Han-shan. A series of responses to one hundred of the old fellow’s surviving poems slowly nears completion.
