Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening


Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

By Robert Frost

 

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.

 

 

About the Poem:

 

Robert Frost wrote the poem in June 1922 at his house in Shaftsbury, Vermont. He had been up the entire night writing the long poem "New Hampshire" and had finally finished when he realized morning had come. He went out to view the sunrise and suddenly got the idea for "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." He wrote the new poem "about the snowy evening and the little horse as if I'd had a hallucination" in just "a few minutes without strain."

 

Readers often find the poem somewhat dark, albeit beautiful, and many assume it has something to do with death (or at least fatigue with life). When asked if the poem had anything to do with death or suicide, Frost denied it, preferring to keep everyone guessing by merely saying "No." However, many scholars still think that the poem could be construed as a dream-like tale of someone passing away or saying a final goodbye and has often been used as such. 

 

In the early morning of November 23, 1963, Sid Davis of Westinghouse Broadcasting reported the arrival of President John F. Kennedy's casket at the White House. Since Frost was one of the President's favorite poets, Davis concluded his report with a passage from this poem but was overcome with emotion as he signed off. Also, at the funeral of former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau, on October 3, 2000, his eldest son, current Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, rephrased the last stanza of this poem in his eulogy: "The woods are lovely, dark and deep. He has kept his promises and earned his sleep.”

 

In many ways, it's a poem that trusts the reader. The words, sounds, and images appeal to all—from those who regard it as no more than a serene winter scene featuring snowy woods, a horse, and a rider to those who feel a morose shudder when they read the final two lines. This ambiguity makes the poem a classic and keeps it relevant so many years after its publication. The narrative sets up a subtle tension between the timeless attraction of the lovely woods and the pressing obligations of the present moment.

6 comments:

BosGuy said...

This is yet another favorite poem of mine which I often post on my blog each February. Boston has only had two snowfalls (both substantial in snow accumulation) but neither have stuck around for more than a couple of days since temps invariably have been too warm. Do you have any snow in VT right now? I keep seeing photos of friends skiing but I can't tell if it is all manmade or gifts from Mother Nature.

Susan said...

An absolute favorite. Love the mental visual of, "To watch his woods fill up with snow." and the reference to snow as a "downy flake." Thank you, Joe. Definitely worthy of an annual posting. <3

Joe said...

BosGuy, we are currently covered in snow. We got one storm that was about 9 inches maybe a week ago, and it has continued to cover the ground as we have gotten small amounts of snow almost every day since then. I don't expect to see the ground again until sometime in May. Some areas are worse than we are, and some are better. I live right on the edge of the Green Mountains in central Vermont, so we usually see a fair amount of snow. I was stuck here for the first time during Christmas because of the pandemic and was looking forward to a white Christmas for the first time ever. It didn't happen. In fact, Vermont on Christmas Day was warmer than Alabama. The snow started a day or so later and we've basically had it since then.

Anonymous said...

Hope you are pleased by the game last night, Joe, and by the contribution made by Mac Jones. In build and looks he much resembles Jack Laugher, the English Olympic diver. Look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJEhvCZ3qg0. The second dive is spectacular and absolutely no body fat. But don’t get your hopes up. He has a live-in girlfriend. Look at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzU-AAJKRII. Roderick. P.S. I took up swimming long after high school (where I hated it), but alas the epidemic makes going to the pool impossible.

Lenny Ricci said...

Joe, thanks for posting one of my favorite poems of all times... I first read it while researching a paper in my honor ethics class at Monmouth College in Jersey. I was overwhelmed by it's simplicity and devout beauty as it brought back many memories of our family taking back woods sleigh rides in the pine barrens of southern New Jersey when we were kids. I memorized it there on the spot and have since enjoyed many more of Mr. Frost's other wonderful poems. Now I have to take down my book of his entire collection off the shelf and read another of my faves... Desert Places. Join me. You might just like this one as much also.
Lenny

Alex Eidt said...

Ah, yet the horse signals that the traveler had never stopped like this before. If not dark, at least introspective and melancholy. Frost did admit that in 'The Road Not Taken', the traveler had in fact taken the wrong road. Ha!!! Try telling this to any secondary school teacher!!!!!!!!!! You should research what happened with Frost on the day of JFK's inauguration, with Biden's looming!!!!