The following version of this poem was used to create this guide: Gioia, Dana. “At the Crossroads.” Literary Hub, https://lithub.com/at-the-crossroads-a-poem-by-dana-gioia/. Note that all parenthetical citations refer to the line number from which the quotation is taken.

“At the Crossroads” is a tightly structured free verse poem by American poet and literary critic Dana Gioia. It first appeared in his collection Meet Me At the Lighthouse in 2023, then in Literary Hub later that year. In addition to his poetry, Gioia has published several books of literary criticism and served as California’s poet laureate from 2015 to 2019. This poem blends concrete imagery with introspection and a setting taken from generations of folk custom.