Robert Frost (1874-1963)

Robert Frost has been my favorite poet since I first became aware of poetry, long before I ever considered writing poetry myself. His poem, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, written in 1922, is one of his greatest achievements. This poem is vivid, beautiful, and musical. You can almost feel the cold and hear the snow fall. If I had to delve deeper I'd say it's about the journey we take, from childhood to adulthood, and how easy it is to give up or get lost along the way. But we all have parents to make proud, obligations to fulfill and promises to keep, and therefore, miles to go before we sleep.

Be sure you click on Frost's name below to hear him reading the poem. It's a rather bad visual of a very young Frost speaking. I like it anyway. I love to hear poets recite their own poetry because they add little nuances, pauses and subtleties other readers don't.


















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.