Kumin vs. Stafford

Woodchucks: In Maxine Kumin's "Woodchucks", Kumin parallels his anger and frustration towards the woodchucks in his garden to the cynical and violent actions of Nazi's in World War II. "I dream a sight along the barrel in my sleep. If only they'd all consent to die unseen gassed underground the quiet Nazi way" (Kumin 28-30). Through Kumin's frustration towards the animals that eat in his garden, he channels his inner "murdered" and inner Nazi, killing the woodchucks maliciously with no mercy or care for nature, similar to the actions of Nazi Germany.

Traveling Through the Dark: In William Stafford's "Traveling through the Dark,' Stafford explains the story of a man who comes upon a dead deer and is faced with the decision of saving an unborn life or saving a person's life. Stafford's somber tone reveals the man and his crossroads, knowing that his decision will be watched by all of nature. Similar to Kumin's, both characters are influenced by modern ideals as one choses to kill because of annoying and the other knows that killing the baby and deer will save another human life. Both poems stray away from the idea of nature and more towards the benefits of their actions.