Detour - Ruth Feldman

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Ruth Feldman was an American poet and translator. The author of five books of poetry, Ruth Feldman also authored fifteen books of Italian translations, all poetry with the exception of Primo Levi's concentration camp stories. In 2000, Feldman and John P. Welle received the Raiziss/de Palchi Book Prize for their translation of Andrea Zanzotto's work Peasant's Wake for Fellini's Casanova and Other Poems (University of Illinois Press, 1997).
She won the John Florio Prize in England, the Circe-Sabaudia in Italy, and the Italo Calvino Prize in the United States, and her poetry has been translated into Italian, French, and Spanish. The recipient of a Literary Translator's Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, she lectured and read at many universities in the United States and Italy.
I took a long time getting here,
much of it wasted on wrong turns,
back roads riddled by ruts.
I had adventures I never would have known
if I proceeded as the crow flies.
Super highways are so sure of where they are going:
they arrive too soon.
A straight line isn't always the shortest distance
between two people.
Sometimes I act as though I'm heading somewhere else
while, imperceptibly, I narrow the gap between you and me.
I'm not sure I'll ever know the right way,
but I don't mind getting lost now and then.
Maps don't know everything.
"Detour" by Ruth Feldman is a reflective and contemplative poem that metaphorically explores the journey of life and relationships. The speaker describes a personal journey marked by twists and turns, symbolized by wrong turns, back roads with ruts, and adventures. This journey contrasts with the efficiency of super highways that know exactly where they're headed but often arrive too quickly, implying a lack of meaningful experiences.
The poem extends its metaphor to relationships, suggesting that a direct and linear path isn't always the most meaningful or fulfilling route to connect with others. The speaker acknowledges the subtlety of their approach, where they might appear to be moving away while actually closing the emotional distance between themselves and someone else.
The uncertainty of life's journey is acknowledged, as the speaker admits that they might never fully comprehend the "right way" to navigate it. However, this uncertainty doesn't bother them; they find solace in occasional moments of being "lost." This loss of direction might lead to unexpected discoveries and insights, much like taking a detour in life can lead to unique experiences that wouldn't have been encountered otherwise.
The poem concludes by asserting that maps, symbolic of conventional wisdom or predetermined paths, don't possess all the answers. This reinforces the idea that life's richness often lies in the detours and uncharted paths and that the true essence of the journey is not solely about reaching a destination, but about the experiences, connections, and growth that occur along the way.
Special Thanks & Credits:
Read by Cheri Falk
Visuals - Larkspur House. Joshua Tree. airbnb by Ron Hamad (vimeo.com/220091289)
Glamorous Wanderer by (vimeo.com/442660335)
Love Story by GUILD (vimeo.com/715016391)
Music - Don’t Forget Me by Spheriá | / spheriamusic
Music promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
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