Poem for Wednesday

Traveling Through the Dark
By William 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.

--------

Home from Pennsylvania, which ended up voting the way my in-laws campaigned for. Voted myself. Chatted. Cried. Can't keep my eyes open any longer waiting for Ohio. Going to go doze and hope for the best and check back later.


Monument from Gettysburg earlier today. I needed an image I could feel patriotic about without qualification, because I am sure not getting it from the election, particularly the 18-24 non-voter statistics.