Traveling
through the Dark.
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 belly. My fingers touching the 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 it's 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 all of us
-- my only swerving -- then pushed her over the edge into the
river.
-William Stafford (1960) |