Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

[dragonyphoenix]

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.

Comments

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

I hope you do. I'd love to see it.

I was reading that this poem was written on Christmas eve. He was a farmer and didn't have much money that year so he took goods to market so he could try to sell them and buy gifts for his kids. He didn't see anything so no presents. This was written as he was heading home.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

This was written as he was heading home.

I've never read anything about Frost and had no idea about this whatsoever so thank you, that makes the poem even more interesting. (I assumed - IDK, that he was a professor? An academic, or somesuch? I honestly never gave the subject any thought.)

That information makes "promises to keep/ and miles to go before I sleep" very very different to me. Suddenly it's not abstract and metaphorical or symbolic it's weighted in painful and difficult reality.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

If I remember correctly, he was a teacher. He felt he had to choose which was his real passion, teaching or poetry. We sort of know which one he picked. So he gave up teaching to take up farming because it would leave him more time to devote to his poetry.

it's weighted in painful and difficult reality. Yes, you described it very well.