Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Robert Frost
I love this poem! My brother recited this in front of the whole school when he was in second grade. Congrats on winning the blogging award!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Monica. I have a number of favorite poems, and this is a tip-top beloved one. It really "shows" us the snow; I almost shiver readying it. Thanks for the congrats, and congrats to you as well (I assume you've looked at your comments lately?) :)
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ReplyDeleteRobert Frost is one of my favourite poets. When I read the first stanza I just knew it had to be a Frost poem. Are you a fellow poetry lover? I like the image too. I wonder how the snow appears to be falling. Thank you for sharing!
I am clueless as to how someone made it look like there was snow actually falling, but I was delighted to find this image - and especially delighted to find that the (photographer?) had placed it in public domain for others to use and enjoy! It seemed the perfect thing to pair with a favorite poem. And YES, I am INDEED a poetry lover! Frost is a particular favorite, for he so marvelously does what a former poetry teacher of mine drummed into her students... he "shows," he doesn't "tell." His use of sounds and rhythm is, to me, practically ideal... "the only other sound's the sweep of easy wind and downy flake." Aaaaaaaaahhhhh........... :)
ReplyDeleteGreat poem (and picture). I love poetry and have always been a fan of Robert Frost. I'm glad you enjoy poetry too! Thomas Merton and Francis Thompson are two of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary! Have you read Jessica Powers' poetry (she was a nun and I can't remember her name in Religion just now)? I LOVE her work, especially one called "Abraham." I would have shared that poem here long ago but it's not in public domain. It can be found quickly with a Goggle search however :). It speaks of taking out old maps, manipulating dates and decisions, pulling apart the dark.... and I feel like I've (sigh) pulled out a weather beaten mirror....
DeleteNo, I haven't read any of her work but that will soon change :) Thanks for the recommendation!
DeleteI too love this poem. Although, I was horrified when my college English professor presented it as the author longing to end his life, but knowing he had to keep going. I don't think I agree with THAT interpretation.
ReplyDeleteThis poem comes to mind for me when I am weary, tired, stressed, overwhelmed, etc., and I think of Heaven and that final home where the only promise to keep will be to love, and where a refreshing rest will never, ever end. Great picture!
Goodness, I've never heard that interpretation! I wrote a tiny bit of poetry myself, long ago. Once I was thoroughly amused to hear what the other students "decided I meant" by one poem as they critiqued it in class... they actually made it sound as if it were MUCH more profound than anything I'd even remotely had in mind! Since that time, I've taken interpretations of such things with the proverbial grain of salt, unless I hear explanations in the author's own words. I much prefer your own thoughts on this to your professor's! :)
DeleteThis poem always reminds me to slow down and enjoy some nature. Life is very stressful, and there are 1,001 reasons to not go out and take a walk or get some fresh air. But the sight of some beauty (a little hard to come by on the south side of Chicago) really restores me, makes me able to trudge on and keep those promises!
ReplyDeleteJamie, you and I sound like two of a kind! I love the challenge of looking for beauty in nature no matter where I am. You know where I most love to see snow? In a bustling city, where it seems to "soften the edges" and hush city sounds and provide a whisper of beauty in unexpected spots. I'm sure this is because I grew up in a small city, and rode the city bus back and forth to grade school every day. I loved to watch pure white flakes fall out the bus windows, and I loved to crunch through mounds of snow on sidewalks. And now I'd better stop before this becomes another whole post :)......!
DeleteOh I just got to this post!! I love snow too!!! This is such a great painting with the animation of snow...and of course Frost is wonderful!!! Thanks for sharing some beauty that can be found in the shortest days of the year!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
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