Essay One: Explicating Poetry

Kyndra Prietzel
June 28, 2019
“Footprints in the Sand” by Mary Stevenson

This poem expresses the conflict between people and their relationship to the Lord.

Moreover, it expresses the poet’s relationship with the Lord. From the new criticism theory, the

poet has a dream where she is walking on the beach alongside the Lord. Above, the sky shows

her life, and with each scene shown there are two sets of footprints in the sand, the poet’s, and

the Lord’s. When the last scene is shown the poet looks back at the footprints, and notices along

the path that there were times where only one set of footprints were shown. When there were was

only one set the poet remembers that this was during the lowest parts of her life. This bothered

the poet, and asked the Lord, “‘I don’t understand why when I need you most you would leave

me.’” (Stevenson 21-22). The Lord replied there was only one set of footprints because during

that time He was carrying her, thus explaining the missing footprints, the poet’s.

The format and syntax of the poem is like a story. There is no rhyming or meter used to

format the poem, but instead stanzas that separate different ideas. The first line is “One night I

dreamed…” (Stevenson 1). The pause indicates the passing into a dream or recollection of a

dream, an end-stopped line that moves the poem to the next line. The previous line leads up to

the next stanza, whose main purpose is for introductory and setting; “I was walking along the

beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed

footprints in the sand” (Stevenson 2-4). This stanza is used to express the setting, where the poet

is, and what is happening so the reader can understand. The next stanza expresses emotions and

feelings of the poet while the last two is a conversation between the poet and the Lord. The lines

within the poem begin a new with each breath, and don’t stop based upon rhyme. However, I
believe this was intended to express the breath in life, and at the end how breath stops, thus the

end of life.

The diction within the poem is informal, there is no elevated, elaborate language used. In

fact, the poem symbolizes a simplistic understanding of life. The poem includes elementary

words that show that this poem isn’t meant for only adults and higher educated people, but, in

actually, can relate to all people, young and old, educated and uneducated. The poet uses words

such as “sorrow”, and “bothered” instead of “melancholy” or “distressed” which allows easy

understanding.

Furthermore, the words used, especially “footprints”, gives the poem a more focused

idea. At the beginning in lines 5 and 6 the syntax of the lines is something similar to an

assonance: “Sometimes there were two sets of footprints”. Though the words aren’t right next to

each other the reoccurring “o” vowel is used as well in line 6 “Other times there was one set of

footprints”. There is a beat within the poem to express a steady talk and/or speech. Furthermore,

the usage of the word “footprints” indicates a lot about the poem. It is the explicit symbol of

walking on the sand in the poem, and yet can implicitly refer to life. The word “footprints” is

used six times in the poem, which could relate to the Biblical reference that God created the

world in only six days, leaving the seventh word of “footprints” to be of rest which is not

explicitly presented, but implied. The word could mostly likely be used to imply meaning and

theme, therefore used many times to remind readers the main point and purpose.

The poem begins with, “One night I had a dream… I dreamed I was walking along the

beach with the Lord” (Stevenson 1-3). In literal terms, the poet could have had a dream, or was

reminiscing about their life. Though the “dream” quality involves the idea of a spiritual being

walking beside the poet, wherein reality the poet cannot see the Lord beside them, and therefore
uses imagination or faith to ensure such a Lord is walking beside her through life. The poet

expresses that scenes of life flashed above her in the sky. This again includes the idea of recalling

about life. However, the poet sees life with the Lord walking besides them, and gives the

indication that life shouldn’t be wasted since the Lord is always with you. The popular, “Let us

eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” saying includes the concept of life is short, and enjoy it. This

is included in the Bible in 1 Corinthians, Isiah, Proverbs, and Luke (“Isaiah 22:13; Proverbs

23:35; Luke 12:19; 1 Corinthians 15:32” online). Though the scriptures include the saying it is

meant to teach what not to do. For example, in Luke 12: 19-20 a rich man declares that he has

enough good to relax and “eat, drink, and be merry” (“Isaiah 22:13; Proverbs 23:35; Luke 12:19;

1 Corinthians 15:32” online). However, the Lord declares the man a fool since goods (material

objects) do not reflect the soul, and his soul will be required of him. Therefore, the inclusion of

God walking along through life gives a hidden meaning that the poet believes that life is not

made up of only man, but a spiritual being is there watching and waiting to see how she fulfills

her soul. The poet then recalls, “When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back

at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life there was only

one set of footprints” (Stevenson 8-11). The poet then clearly dies, and deciphers how she went

through life with the Lord. When she finds out there were times when only a single set of

footprints existed, which happened “at the very lowest and saddest times in life” (Stevenson 12-

13) the poet becomes bothered and questions God of why He did it. “‘Lord, you said that once I

decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way.’” (Stevenson 16-17). While these lines

express the poet’s distress and misunderstanding there is also the inclusion of loyalty, faith, and

love; “once I decided to follow you” (Stevenson 16), there is a lesson to be learned. Decisions

are a major part of life, and deciding what to do in life is very important, especially in religion or
faith. In Hinduism, evil and good are considered real and caused by free will, thus determining

actions that chose life paths (“Problem of evil in Hinduism” para. 3). In Catholicism, there is the

belief of “freedom of consent”, especially in the given case of marriage, but however includes

life actions and choices (“Catholic Church” para. 63). Though this all has to do with religion of

who a person worships this can also be included in everyday choices and actions that take place.

Therefore, the poet includes that she has chosen the way of life to follow her Lord with full

intent. The poet continues to question with, “‘I don’t understand why when I need you most you

would leave me.’” (Stevenson 21-22). Obviously, the poet expresses feelings and questions to

better understand her God which clearly can also be expressed in everyday life.

Misunderstandings in life can lead to greater understandings if you speak up. However, in this

context, the poet is unsure of why the Lord, someone who loves her so much, would leave her

when life was so hard. In the poem, the Lord replies, “‘My precious child, I love you and would

never leave you.’” (Stevenson para. 24-25). This provides the truth of the Lord’s affections

towards the poet, and his ultimate love that would never leave her alone. He had never left her,

and thus the misunderstanding between the poet and the Lord can be untangled and

comprehended.

The last piece of the poem reads, “‘During your times of trial and suffering, when you see

only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.’” (Stevenson 26-28). These lines show

that the Lord never left the poet, but in times of trial took upon Himself the trails for her so she

wouldn’t have to suffer. This connects the idea of The Atonement which the Christian world

believes in, in which Christ is the substitute for sinners (Johnson para. 3). However, this also

includes in the Latter-Day Saints religion the cleansing of “our afflictions and infirmities” as

well as “our weaknesses and imperfections” (Callister para. 3). So, during the times of sin and,
possibly, during the times of hurt the Lord carried the poet through life by the action of The

Atonement. Therefore, the main idea is that the poet felt alone when in reality she never was

alone, and built a stronger relationship because of it. It is a recognition that her God was always

there, and will always be there.

About the Author:

The author, Mary Stevenson, was born November 8, 1922 in Chester, Pennsylvania. She

lost her mother at age six, which forced her father to raise all eight children. Her childhood was

formed around The Great Depression, and it was in her teens that she wrote “Footprints in the

Sand”, inspired by her tough childhood (Zangare para. 1-2).

 Works Cited

“Catholic Church.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 June 2019,

wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church .

Callister, Tad R. “The Atonement of Jesus Christ.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/04/45callister?lang=eng .

“Isaiah 22:13; Proverbs 23:35; Luke 12:19; 1 Corinthians 15:32.” ESV Bible,
esv.org/Isaiah+22:13;Proverbs+23:35;Luke+12:19;1+Corinthians+15:32/ .

Johnson, Franklin. “The Atonement by R. A. Torrey.” Blue Letter Bible,

blueletterbible.org/Comm/torrey_ra/fundamentals/42.cfm .

“Problem of evil in Hinduism.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 May 2019,

wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_of_evil_in_Hinduism .

Stevenson, Mary. “Footprints in the Sand.” Charity Christian Missions,

charitychristianfellowship.org/sites/default/files/mission-newsletter-archives/2007-10-
footprints.pdf .

Zangare, Basil. “The Official Footprints In The Sand Page.” The Official Footprints in the Sand
Page, footprints-inthe-sand.com/index.php?page=Bio.php .