Wilson River Road Poem

Line 1 of the poem, the poet states he found a deer while traveling in night. This is relatively normal in some area. Seeing a deer while traveling can leave an “awe” impression and can be a good sign. However, in line 2, the readers found out that the deer is dead and is on the edge of the Wilson River road. The initial impression of seeing a deer became sad since the deer is dead and near the road of the traveling poet. By giving the location of the road he was on, it helps the reader who knows the road or decide to look it up, generates an image of his current situation. In line 3, the poet states the best course of action is to push the deer into the canyon. The word “usually” implies that this is not his first time seeing this kind of scenario and is kind of familiar with it. Line 4, the poet gives a description of the road being narrow and uses the word “swerve” which indicate a sharp turn in the road. Cause of the sharp turn and the road being narrow, it’s not uncommon for incoming vehicle to hit and probably kill a deer due to a lack of view from

Since it’s a female deer, it’s safe for the poet to assume that the deer is pregnant and the fawn, a baby deer, is in the belly. Line 10 describes the fawn is still alive in the belly. The tone in line 11 turns sad when the poet state “alive, still, never to be born”. Even though the fawn is alive, it is still in the belly of a dead deer who cannot deliver it. In line 12, the poet give the reader image of him beside the mountain road. Knowing that there is a fawn and alive in the deer, it causes the poet to rethink his initial course of action of pushing the deer off the road. It shows the sadness the poet feel toward the dead deer with its unborn fawn. In this stanza, the poet is in a dilemma to decide rather this deer is dead or not. The deer is a paradox. Even though the deer is dead, the fawn inside is alive which defies the definition of