The Leash (Symbol)
The phrase "the leash" only appears once in the body of the poem, but it is also the poem's title, signifying its importance as a central symbol. The speaker uses the leash to stop her dog from running into the street, a very ordinary thing for dog owners. However, the speaker uses this setting to reflect more on the self-destructive impulses she and other humans share with the dog, albeit for different reasons. The word "unleashed" in line 2 indicates the death and violence that happens when we let go of our control and give in to that destruction. And the final image in lines 32-33 is peaceful because the dog is walking at the speaker's heels again, i.e., the leash is slack and not currently needed. In these ways, "the leash" can be read as an overarching metaphor for the restraint and balance that keep us sane, safe, and alive.
The Pickup Trucks (Symbol)
The pickup trucks can be read as a symbol of violence or tragedy. They are what the dog impulsively chases after, risking her life in the process. The trucks parallel the scenes of violence and ecological crisis described in lines 1-13, which risk human life, and occur, the speaker claims in line 30, because we, too, are chasing love. The poem ends with the speaker and dog awaiting "the next truck," which can also be understood as the next tragedy or crisis that will test the speaker's self-preservation.
