Featured Writers—2: Robert Frost
Frost hooked me early when speaking of two paths and choices. Yet, other favs I have found: one about a garden and another proposes taking time to converse with a friend. Here I speak of the 3.
A longer read—in 3 parts—but, there’s LOTS to think about! I hope you’ll take the invite at the very end to discuss as well! If you are only in it for the read, NO WORRIES! Some of us, however, are literature nerds and love to talk about it! If you’re in my Lit. Nerd Tribe— CAN’T WAIT!!
Paths, Dead-ends, and Choices—
From the moment I read my first Frost poem, I was a fan. Most likely, you know his poem, The Road Not Taken1(use this link for a refresher). This one, in particular, spoke to the wanderer in me and mirrored a place I always seemed to find myself: in a constant state of choosing. Now, we all are saddled with having to make choices; it’s certainly a given in life. That’s, however, not the full bond with this poem for me.
What connected within myself was the visual of going along on a certain path, contentedly it seems, when, quite unexpectedly, the way reaches a distinct Y, that fork in the road. Ahead, there would be no straight extension of the path I was currently on, only the which-way choice in the veering off of it. Moments like these have always felt like a gut punch, a betrayal of sorts, to the hominess of my current course. Though options were there, I still felt, for a time, that impact of a dead-end.
Uggghh! That frustration, felt at my core, when facing the end of things, the loss and the letting go of what was, and the heaviness shouldered while coming to terms with it; it’s right up there with excruciating. For a time, there is a resentment for the dead-end’s quandary. It takes some internal work employing acceptance, mercy, grace, and forgiveness to move on and choose, or accept, the next way.
In the end, there is acknowledgement of a silver lining. The gift this poem brought me was peace in the choice making, moving along without guilt nor regret, and appreciating all that was blessed about both the old road and the new. In this mysterious life, what I was leaving behind as well as the selection of where I would be going, were exactly the places intended for me. They were and would be ALL the difference.
I’ll never tire of reading The Road Not Taken or of giving reverence to it.
Now, my next favorite—
A Time To Talk2
When a friend calls to me from the road And slows his horse to a meaning walk, I don’t stand still and look around On all the hills I haven’t hoed, And shout from where I am, What is it? No, not as there is a time to talk. I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground, Blade-end up and five feet tall, And plod: I go up to the stone wall For a friendly visit. —Frost, 1916
For all the frenzied swirl of our lives, isn’t this poem one that calls for us to find the placidness amidst our obligated tasks and timelines?! Ah, to know such fluidity! Also, what a kindness to take up that chance to stop for a break and have a good ‘how is everything?’ catch up. It can lift each spirit in ways unknown; one trots off having gained from a good talk and, you, return to the task at hand a bit refreshed and with something to think about while you work. I know, it is often difficult to do; we all know the expectations and restrictions of a chore or job that just needs gettin’ done. But, how paramount is it, really, when the needs of others, or ourselves, pine for our attention? Can a balance be had? We already know it should.
As this poem resonated with me, I recalled a time in my life when there really did seem to be a more peaceful symmetry between work and everything else. Yet, as I took on positions with more responsibility, seemingly unending hours, requirements to take work home, and, then, strict adherence to timelines, the probability of personal-professional harmony dwindled. How is it one can honor the committed obligations to an employer or team of coworkers or personal duty, and still fulfill the demand of personal connection? To compromise either part equates to loss; someone will certainly be incensed, or get behind. Is there a please-everyone answer?!
The honest truth—the reality—NO.
Surely you are familiar with the quote below:
“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” —John Lydgate
Lydgate, a poet and monk who lived from 1370-1451, sure had it right; even way back then! As humans, we certainly have not changed much! Still, with respect to this poem, and our own lives, might we choose to, even occasionally, set the current task aside for that chanced visit with a passing friend or neighbor, thus, easing up on the restrictions of our saddled existence. We all might manage to benefit from such encounters, wouldn’t we?!
P.S. I hear your BUTS…. Of course, there will always be exceptions! We all know them: the gossip grabber or the busy body or that passing neighbor who thinks a short visit = an hour! We don’t want to be rude, but sometimes they test our every fiber or we just have to PEE!
I think of the British sitcom character, Hyacinth Bucket, on Keeping Up Appearances or Harriet Oleson on Little House on the Prairie, and I am SURE there are more examples with our current day attachment to all the ‘Real Housewives’ dramas and the ilk. (NOT that I have watched the latter drivel; apologies if you are a fan). These characters have the market cornered for gettin’ in folks’ BUSINESS! So often, these types are those we try our best to avoid! Bless their hearts!
There is that challenge we endure with the overly viscid person, the one who is set on their assumption that you are perpetually at their disposal or you must have nothing else to do. Remember, a kind and gracious wave is a suitable solution to avoid having your day overtaken. I’ve been told— ‘bless and release’ is essential to sanity! There is most definitely a TRUTH to that!
Still, carry on with your obligations, but once in a while, take that opportunity to lean on that stone wall and chat. You’ll be happier for it!
The final favorite…
‘How Does Your Garden Grow?’
How DOES your garden grow? The section title above has a link to consider the intent of the question posed in a common nursery rhyme. I’ll let you ponder it and the choice of connection to the topic poem below. My word nerd self found all of this interesting! I won’t be offended if you don’t! Love and carry on!
Considering an early poem by Frost: God’s Garden
I LOVE this last Frost poem: God’s Garden3! This one has always spoken to me of, again, keeping eyes focused on the ‘narrow’ path; in this case on our course to a heavenly home. Frost wrote many poems reflecting his belief and faith in God and, for me, this is one of his best.
Not only as a believer, but as a human existing in the world, it resonates with me for many reasons.
Our path. We are all on one! Reflecting on our steps upon it, past and present, hopefully keeps us on course and from hitting the ditch! Frost imparts the necessity to keep the path clear as well; don’t we have a tendency to muck things up?!
God’s creation. We have this beautiful earth within which we reside, yes. Yet, more supremely, we have ourselves with a mind, body, and soul which we inhabit as well. Our tending of both is vitally important. For, if we do not take care of this earth, it will disintegrate: litter and landfills, pollution, raping of forests and land, and every nasty effect of our all-consuming nature. We can parallel this to what we do to our own form and psyche. We can be awfully self-destructive. Being aware and working to change it…key, really.
Our human nature: to sway to temptation. Oh, all the sparkly and glittering things that catch our eye! And…if you have read any Shakespeare:
All that glisters is not gold—
Often have you heard that told.
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold.
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscrolled
Fare you well. Your suit is cold—
— William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, Act II Scene 7
Frost and Shakespeare4, both frequently reference the Bible and speak of our fascination with gold and wealth and idols and THINGS! I will never forget my first discovery of ‘fool’s gold’ growing up in Montana. I thought I had found the most valuable treasure and RICH, I would be! I was soon disappointed! Good lesson on ‘all that glitters is NOT gold’, whether it be a tangible item or the people and things we idolize. The tempter would hope we stay the ‘fool’ and kneel to the worldly ‘god/gold’ we see and desire. The Bible shows us, rather, that the true place for gold is in relation to Him. I won’t give you a literary lesson on the Book, but a simple search of the topic of gold in the text and teachings was eye opening, particularly with the passages grouped together! Carrying on… Thus—Frost’s warnings in the second stanza of God’s Garden reveal that the one enamored with ‘gold flowers’ is lost, cannot be ‘helped’ and will be on his own while on this path; I am assuming the one to Heaven. We all need to acknowledge, and beware of, a ‘fools’ following by heeding this advice and warning. A deep dive in the Bible tells me so.
Keeping our eye on the true prize. Every part of Frost’s last stanza is as familiar to my heart as my own experiences. As a follower of Christ’s life and Word, the path and the prize is clear and certain, for me; those words written in red explain. Though I am the worst of sinners, I strive to keep my path as clear and my eyes as set on the stars of Heaven as humanly possible; life is the most difficult, yet rewarding, walk I will ever take. To explain this personally, I can not do it justice or give it enough glory. I do know that while my feet are in the dirt, I must be diligent in tending the earth and my own garden. In that, I must look to God-created flowers and let loose any desire for the golden flowers with which the tempter woos fools.
Parting question for my self-reflection: How does MY garden grow?
For Reference:
In studying Frost’s, God’s Garden, and preparing for a response and personal analysis, I was glad to have the Bible at ready and do a search of the words: path, way, gold, life, flower, prize, and Heaven. For anyone interested, I use a Bible app to make this super easy.
In reading and studying Robert Frost, I have several sources in my library and do love a quick Google to find his works, biography info, and analyses of his writings.
*Quite a few of Frost’s poems are not in the public domain and require permissions to post in their entirety; I am providing links to those. The first poem is viewable from a wonderful non-profit organization that supports American poets and shares their poetry, the Academy of American Poets. As a former teacher, this organization was always a great resource! The work they do for education programs is worth our dime! If you haven’t found them yet for your online poetry reading, take a look at their site and help support them by becoming a member OR donate!
This poem is in the public domain. You can view more about it and find other Frost poems at Poets.org, American Academy of Poets.
This last link is to the poem and a short analysis of God’s Garden…on a site strictly for lovers of poetry; one that has been established since 1999. I appreciate reading different analyses of poetry as it helps me to consider a poem, the author’s intent, or a reader’s perception beyond my own interpretation.
Click on each author to delve into interesting articles/publications about their beliefs and references to the Bible.