TRAVELING THROUGH THE DARK

TRAVELING THROUGH THE DARK

STAFFORD, William (1914). Born in U.S.A. He took a doctorate at the University of Lowa. His first book was not published until 1959 (The poems), when he was forty-five, but he has published a great deal during the ensuing years (Traveling thought the dark 1962, The rescued year 1966, Temporary facts 1970, in the clock of reason, 1973, things that happen when there aren’t any people 1980, Listening Deep 1984, stones, storms, and strangers 1984 Wyoming 1985). His poem mostly has a non-urban locale. His other works include down in my heart (1947, rev. 1985), You Must Revise your life (1986).

William Stafford

In this poem Stafford present a grate tension between two realities, two systems of life. On one hand are efficiency and responsibility, unglamorous virtues that we learn to admire when we face danger or loss. On the other hand, are emotions warmer than efficiency and deeper than good judgment where on the scale of rational decision making is the protagonist to weigh what he feels when he touches the doe’s side:” her fawn lay there waiting, alive, still, never to be born”? Stafford’s poem is strong because he does full justice to both sides of the conflict.

Traveling through the dark I found a dear 

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 that 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.