The Journey

The storm in “The Journey” represents the chaos created by others. It first causes the home to “tremble” (Line 7), or shake. This kind of movement can be caused by an earthquake or large storm. Symbolically, trembling is an emotional reaction to other people’s shouting, when loud, negative voices cause someone’s body to physically tremble. The symbolism moves away from an earthquake and clearly becomes a storm when its “wind pried / with its still fingers” (Lines 14-15) at the house’s foundation. This could be caused by a hurricane or other high wind event. Symbolically, the wind comes from the words of others; their voices ride on their breath. The harmful words are an impetus for the journey. A person must travel away from the symbolic storm to find their inner truth. The storm leaves “fallen / branches and stones” (Lines 21-22) in the road. These represent the trauma or other emotional baggage that the voices leave behind. The destruction that the voices cause must be escaped, as well as the voices themselves.

The stars are seen after the storm and represent power and guidance from nature and oneself. Once a person is free of others’ voices, “the stars [begin] to burn / through the sheets of clouds” (Lines 25-26).