Spirituality probably looks different from culture to culture. And within each culture, there are probably many different forms of spiritual expression. It's not religion exactly, but it does have to do with a personal relationship with something larger than yourself. And this idea of getting out of yourself, finding a quiet place, connecting with something beyond, is central to "The Sacred." It's not just a clever title, in fact, but a theme that drives (get it?) the poem's development. In this case, the pursuit of spirituality drives the student away "from the need to speak" and toward a space in which he gets to rock out to his favorite tunes and cruise along the road, just enjoying the ride.
Questions About Spirituality
- How does the speaker tie spirituality into driving?
- What is spiritual about getting away from the need to speak? How is this poem both a spiritual exercise of admiring the language of poetry, while praising the need to leave language behind?
- In what ways do both the car and the poem become vessels for something spiritual to happen?
Chew on This
Imagine driving your favorite drive while listening to your favorite song, talking to nobody, just being alone for a while as the road speeds underneath you. It's not church, but it's still sacred, and Dunn's poem captures the beauty of that fleeting experience.
Don't have a car? No problem, you can still get spiritual. Dunn's poem uses the image of a car, but what he's really getting at is the importance of being in motion, moving through life and letting life's beauty fill you up as you wind down its scenic paths.