Plot summary, “Traveling through the Dark” by William Stafford in 5 Minutes - Book Review
0"Traveling Through the Dark" is a well-known poem written by William Stafford, an American poet. The poem was published in 1962 and is considered one of Stafford's most anthologized and studied works. It touches on themes of morality, decision-making, and the complexities of life and death.
The poem is known for its concise and impactful narrative. Here is the text of the poem:
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.
The poem tells the story of a narrator driving along a narrow mountain road when he comes across a dead deer. The speaker faces a moral dilemma: whether to leave the deer on the road's edge or push her off the road into the river below. As the narrator approaches the deer, he realizes that she is pregnant and her fawn is still alive inside her. This realization complicates the decision further.
The poem captures the tension between human intervention and the natural world, as well as the complex ethical choices individuals face in their interactions with animals and nature. The choice the narrator makes ultimately reflects his understanding of what is best in the given situation, even though it involves taking a life to potentially save others.
"Traveling Through the Dark" is often analyzed for its narrative simplicity, vivid imagery, and its portrayal of human responsibility in the face of the harsh realities of life and death. It has been praised for its exploration of morality and the complexities of decision-making, inviting readers to contemplate their own choices and their consequences.