The subject of the poem takes this escape regularly, "once a year"(line1). Every April, the male persona of the poem is drawn powerfully to the south. After researching Shelton I learned that he loved the southwest and Mexico, and traveled extensively throughout both areas. With that information I am convinced that the voice of the poem is his own. This draw is not light or passing, in fact, "it hits like a shovel". The effects are nearly intoxicating, enveloping all of the senses. He is "stunned into believing anything is possible"(line6,7). Just as it is sure that a new day will dawn, the answer to happiness for this man lies south of the border.

This draw is sparked merely by looking at the sky. The guiding light for

The first four stanzas of the poem culminate quickly in the fifth stanza. Here the journey begins. He is finally heading south to the unknown destination of his dreams. His heart is in it and he has the same attitude about what he is leaving behind. The symbolism here is that of freedom as related to birds. He uses the image of his "last chances flapping their wings"(line26). There is a certain desperation seen in this. He sees this as one of his last chances in the search for the happiness he yearns for. It appears that all of the natural creature's "birds of passage" are heading to opposite direction, away from his final destination. This can be seen as him taking the road less traveled or going against the grain of society.

The last stanza of the poem shows some true realization.

with my ugliness intact"(line 29-31).

and each time I return older

of monkeys with harpsichords"(line 21-24).

plays some role in his life. He asks,

Some common words found in the essay are:
Richard Shelton, East Coast, Shelton Camelot, , John Vandyke, day day, love desert, grows life,
Approximate Word count = 1162
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)