Kumin and Stafford

Kumin and Stafford both present descriptive language and an overall theme of life and death that present insight into the savageness of man and innocence of animal. "Woodchucks" and "Traveling through the Dark" both show the inhumane side of animal treatment - yet Kumin's tone is much more harsh, aggressive and unforgiving than Staffords. He attacks the evil psychology of humans and even alludes to Nazism- his relationship to nature is one of contempt. (Yet, it compels me to question the mental state of the speaker and his legitimacy if his perspective is influenced by the utmost extremisms like Nazi warfare.) Now, Stafford's tone is much more gentler but he is still saddened by the treatment of such poor animals. His relationship to nature is one of concern and despair - he see's much beauty in nature but also it's state of destruction. Stafford is very much "traveling through the dark," unable to find the pacifism or mercifulness he so wishes for.