Reference no: EM133301504

Poem: Traveling through the Dark By William E. Stafford

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.

Question: Discuss the dangerous situation in the poem. What would you do? What rights does animals have? Did the speaker speak from personal experience and pragmatic concern? Do you think this scene presents an ethical dilemma? What meanings does "swerve" have in the poem?