"Traveling through the Dark" by William Stafford is a poignant and thought-provoking poem that reflects on the relationship between humanity and nature, as well as the difficult decisions that we must sometimes make in order to preserve the natural world.
The poem begins with the speaker traveling along a road through a dark forest. As he drives, he comes across a doe that has been hit by a car and is lying on the side of the road. The speaker is faced with a difficult decision: should he move the doe off the road to prevent further harm, or leave her be and risk the possibility of other animals being hit by oncoming cars?
The speaker ultimately decides to move the doe off the road and into the forest, where she can die in peace. As he carries the doe, he is struck by the weight of her body and the realization that he is the one responsible for her death. This decision, while perhaps necessary for the greater good, is a heavy burden for the speaker to bear.
Throughout the poem, Stafford uses vivid imagery and descriptive language to convey the emotions and thoughts of the speaker as he grapples with this difficult situation. The "dark forest" serves as a metaphor for the unknown and the unpredictable, and the doe's "warm weight" represents the weight of responsibility and the importance of life.
The final stanza of the poem is particularly powerful, as the speaker reflects on the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of preserving the natural world. He writes: "I thought hard for us all--my only swerving--, then pushed her over the edge of the river into the water." This line suggests that the speaker's decision to move the doe was not just for the benefit of the doe, but for all living beings, as the act of preserving the natural world ultimately benefits us all.
In conclusion, "Traveling through the Dark" is a thought-provoking and emotional poem that explores the complex relationship between humanity and nature. Through vivid imagery and descriptive language, Stafford captures the emotions and thoughts of the speaker as he faces a difficult decision and reflects on the interconnectedness of all living things. Ultimately, the poem serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the natural world and the weight of the decisions we make to do so.