XII - Travelling through the dark

Travelling through the dark

- William Stafford

Short Analysis

The poem 'Travelling through the dark' composed by William Stafford presents a great tension or conflict between two realities, two system of life. On the one hand, there are efficiency, responsibilities, judgement and unglamorous virtues that we have to face or admire during the time of loss and danger. On the other side, there are emotions and feelings deeper and warmer than the efficiency and good judgements. In the poem, in one side there is a mother deer lying dead on the side of river. In next side, there is a fawn alive and still, waiting to be born. But it would never be born. Anyway, the poet does the full justice to both sides by throwing the deer into the river. He cleans the way and helps to lessen the fawn getting extreme pain further.

The poem also presents the controversial idea. Generally we think death impossible in life. But here in the poem, the poet has shown life being possible in death as well. In another word, death in life and life in death is another theme of the poem. In the last of poem, the poet controls his emotions and using his reason, he throws the dead deer into the river. It shows that we should learn to use our reason in the critical situation and accept the situation as they are.