Traveling Through The Dark - A poem by William Stafford

William Stafford - Traveling Through The Dark

Traveling through the dark I found a deer
dead on the edge of the Wilson River road.
It is usually best to roll them into the canyon:
that road is narrow; to swerve might make more dead.

By glow of the tail-light I stumbled back of the car
and stood by the heap, a doe, a recent killing;
she had stiffened already, almost cold.
I dragged her off; she was large in the belly.

My fingers touching her side brought me the reason--
her side was warm; her fawn lay there waiting,
alive, still, never to be born.
Beside that mountain road I hesitated.

The car aimed ahead its lowered parking lights;
under the hood purred the steady engine.
I stood in the glare of the warm exhaust turning red;
around our group I could hear the wilderness listen.

I thought hard for us all--my only swerving--,
then pushed her over the edge into the river.

Added: on January 29th, 2007 at 7:41 AM | Viewed: 12085 times | Comments and analysis of Traveling Through The Dark by William Stafford Comments (14)

Traveling Through The Dark - Comments and Information
Poet: William Stafford Poem: Traveling Through The Dark Poem of the Day: Feb 14 2007 Comment 14 of 14, added on March 31st, 2008 at 11:00 AM. Okay, so I came to the conclusion that the driver could be interpreted as Adolf Hitler. The fawn could be intrepreted as the Jewish people. This is from the perspective of Adolf Hitler, so Adolf Hitler comes to God (deer). It is a narrow road, meaning Adolf Hilter has a very narrow perspective. The engine purrs at one point, The nazis passion for waht they are doing, the front lights dim. Adolf Hitlers narrow perspective becomes narrower. Exhaust turns red, they used torture methods of that kind, and also the battle became bloodier. Hilter hesitates, a moral battle of some kind, finally decides that the jewish people killed there God, cannot survive on there own, and nor could Adolf help them in any way. Of course i don't believe any of this, but Hitler could have Brian from United States Comment 13 of 14, added on January 5th, 2008 at 7:11 PM. viewing all the comments i just read helped me to understand the poem more and i got some answers as well from these comments for my homework assignment and i think this is a pretty good idea for students like me cause im only 14 in high skool and this was a big help for me so thanks ill be back when i need help with my other poems lol bye now nish from Saint Kitts and Nevis Comment 12 of 14, added on January 29th, 2007 at 7:41 AM. Traveling Through the Dark is a deeply emotive poem which presents a deep and true meaning. The title, firstly, could be understoodas a journey into no light. The word 'dark' could be understood as no light, gloom, difficulty of finding the right path. Stafford, throughout the poem makes a link between Nature and human beings. He is faced with the decision of throwing the doe over the edge of the cliff. He is saddened however by the fact that the doe is pregnant and the fawn (baby deer) will not live. He has to make a choice. . He eventually rools the deer into the canyon. The 'I' in the poem had to roll the deer over the edge as the deer could cause other accidents. In order to save one life, another must be sacrificed. The moods of the poem include: sadness, despair. The tone is contemplative. The rhythm is slow due to punctuation which evokes the person's feelings. The figurative devices used include, personification (L.16 wilderness listen) pun (L. 17. swerving), oxymoron (L. 11. alive, still never to be born) and alliteration (L.4 might make more). Rani from Jamaica More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Traveling Through The Dark, has received 14 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by William Stafford with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: William Stafford Poem: Traveling Through The Dark Last read: May 16 2008, 8:48PM Poem of the Day: Feb 14 2007 Viewed 12085 times. Added on January 29th, 2007 at 7:41 AM.

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