Traveling Through the Dark

-William Stafford

One night, the speaker found a dead deer on a side of the Wilson River road. The road was narrow, so there was not enough space for his car to change the direction. In such a situation, it is a good idea to throw dead animals down the deep gorge beside the road.

The speaker stopped his car and got off. He could see a recently killed doe in the tail light of the car. The carcass had been cold and stiff. When he dragged her, he found her to be pregnant.

The speaker touched her side and felt that it was warm. The baby was alive inside. It was waiting in vain to be born. He was confused.

The car engine was making a low and continuous dull sound. It wanted to move ahead. It was also throwing out warm smoke which looked red in the rear light of the car. There was a dead silence around the place. 

He thought for a moment about all the travelers at night and took a decision, i.e. to work rationally rather than emotionally. He pushed the dead doe into the water.