Famous Nature Poem

This deceptively simple poem is by Robert Frost (1874 – 1963). He wrote it in 1922 in a few moments after being up the entire night writing a long and complicated poem. The poem uses an AABA rhyme scheme. The repetition of the last line emphasizes the profundity contained in the last stanza, a popular reading for funerals.

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I was all of 16 years old (1958) at Oak Park High. We finished subjugating and conjugating at the end of our sophomore year. Finally I could put that dangling participle to rest and move on...

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Famous Poem

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Robert Frost By more 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.

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  • Jack Michael Langridge by Jack Michael Langridge
  • 1 year ago

This was a very intriguing poem to read. I think the author was referring to a very low time in his life that he needed to push through to get out the other end. Out of the thousands of poems that I have seen in my life, this is definitely one of my favourites to read and deconstruct. Well done, Mr Robert Frost.

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  • Jack Langridge by Jack Langridge
  • 1 year ago

Very intriguing poem to read. I think Frost was talking about the importance of his existence in life while he was at a low part in his life.

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  • Boyd Schlehuber by Boyd Schlehuber
  • 2 years ago

I think Frost was questioning the importance of his existence at a dark point in his life. His existence and path forward were defined by his promises or responsibilities.

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  • Richard E Whitelock by Richard E Whitelock
  • 3 years ago

I was all of 16 years old (1958) at Oak Park High. We finished subjugating and conjugating at the end of our sophomore year. Finally I could put that dangling participle to rest and move on to essays and poems. My teacher read the poem to the class one January Friday. The snow was deep outside our window. As she read the poem to our class, momentarily I fell in love with this poem written by Robert Frost. I felt like a blood brother to Frost. He took his well earned-position alongside my boyhood heroes the likes of Gayle Sayers and GI Joe. And he remains there today.

I am now 80 years old and residing in New Albany, OH. As I look out my family room window, the snow is deep and undisturbed. My mind goes back to that class over 65 years ago. I long to be a young boy of 16 years old standing in that very same field where the horse stopped and gave his bell a shake. I would simply say to him, I know the journey that you are on. And it is wonderous.

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I can easily imagine myself in the quiet, peaceful, empty, woods. Everything covered with snow, so clean and white. I can hear the faint sound of the snow falling. Very nice.

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  • Chad Macbeth by Chad Macbeth
  • 4 years ago

I have stopped often at places like the scene he has described. More often on foot or in my car instead of a horse. There is that delicate balance of wanting to stay but needing to leave that is captured so well in this poem.

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  • Raphael Buss by Raphael Buss
  • 4 years ago

This poem is very calming. And being a young person, it helps me not sit inside and play computer games. It encourages me to get out to see the wonders of the world.

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  • Richard E Whitelock by Richard E Whitelock
  • 3 years ago

It is good that you recognize the influence of this poem upon your life and how together you can go forward with better clarity as to the importance of small transactions and the effect they have on the larger picture of life. You have shown an awareness and appreciation today which will serve you well tomorrow. I commend you.

  • JAMES BROOKS by JAMES BROOKS
  • 6 years ago

Robert Frost is profound. Every sentence paints a picture. Every word is a world unto itself. In another poem he beckons, "You come too." His poems are personal and intimate. He speaks to us directly, making us feel we are worthy of his insights, his point of view.

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  • Deborah McArthur by Deborah McArthur
  • 7 years ago

Anyone familiar with a wooded snowy vista would certainly be reminded of this poem as I did after being introduced to the writings many years ago in school. Many years have passed since its introduction. Nevertheless, time would have it that I experienced time after time a snowy wooded area in daily walks.

Though I am not familiar with horses, I have a dog who wears a collection of small bells around her collar. Bells, whether church bells or school bells, cause a bevy of remembrances. The poem is beautiful. It not only paints an imaginary picture in your mind of the scene, but it also alerts the sense of hearing at the mention of bells.

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