The following version of this poem was used to create this guide: Ford, Katie. “Still Life.” Blood Lyrics (Graywolf Press, 2014).

Note that all parenthetical citations refer to the line number from which the quotation is taken.

"Still Life" by Katie Ford was originally published in The New Yorker before appearing in Ford's 2014 collection Blood Lyrics. In the poem, the speaker observes a group of addicts sleeping by a pond and associates them with rare amphibious flowers. At just eight lines, this free verse poem deals with complex topics. These include social issues like addiction and spiritual and philosophical concerns with nature, beauty, and relationality. Alongside studying poetry, Ford completed graduate work in world religions and theology, all of which deeply influence her work.