Spring Pools by Robert Frost
January 24th 2009 16:27
These pools that, though in forests, still reflect
The total sky almost without defect,
And like the flowers beside them, chill and shiver,
Will like the flowers beside them soon be gone,
And yet not out by any brook or river,
But up by roots to bring dark foliage on.
The trees that have it in their pent-up buds
To darken nature and be summer woods—
Let them think twice before they use their powers
To blot out and drink up and sweep away
These flowery waters and these watery flowers
From snow that melted only yesterday.
Everyone knows about poems like The Road Not Taken and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, but what about Robert Frost's less-well-known poems? Well, perhaps Spring Pools *is* well-known to everyone except me.
I came across this poem yesterday and it made my brow furrow, since I thought I'd read all the famous poems of his. So is this poem of his not very popular? Well, I for one like it a lot: the images are constructed nicely and they're not overpowering, tucked neatly inside the form of the poem. The only problem I might have with this poem is the its form, unlike most of his more famous poems, is--to me--lacking. The rhyme scheme is fine, but the way the words are put together in some places just seemed, I don't know--clunky. Not that it's a bad poem, just not in line with my aesthetic tastes.
The line "blot out and drink up and sweep away" felt a little too much; too many parallel structures. But perhaps that's what Frost wanted, for the reader to feel a little uncomfortable when reading that line. Frost was a skilled enough poet that I don't think he ever wrote anything without intention; although--like any poet--even some of his published poems might have been more juvenile attempts at mastering the craft. After all, not every poem that a good poet writes is good by default.
In the end, I still like this poem. I resonate with the seasonal images he uses, and the way he executes them is still classic Frost: simple words arranged in simple ways, but put together with other words to make something beautiful. And, as usual, the ending brings a nice thoughtful twist to the poem that opens it up to more possible meanings.
Besides, I have a soft spot for poetry that deals with nature. I love hiking and other activities that have me enjoying the great outdoors. There's such splendor and beauty and majesty in nature, tucked under fern fronds and hidden away in tree stumps. There are so many poems in the forests and the mountains waiting to be plucked like wild strawberries. Frost, through his poetic career, has gathered quite a bushel basket of hidden poems, another favorite of mine being Design.
I may in subsequent Fridays look at more of Frost's poems, probably more lesser-known ones. Tomorrow (Sunday) I'll take a look at one of John Donne's Holy Sonnets. Have a nice day!
P.S. I should have written this post yesterday as per my schedule, but yesterday was so hectic that I didn't even get to think about blogging until 2 AM...and I was much too tired.
The total sky almost without defect,
And like the flowers beside them, chill and shiver,
Will like the flowers beside them soon be gone,
And yet not out by any brook or river,
But up by roots to bring dark foliage on.
The trees that have it in their pent-up buds
To darken nature and be summer woods—
Let them think twice before they use their powers
To blot out and drink up and sweep away
These flowery waters and these watery flowers
From snow that melted only yesterday.
Everyone knows about poems like The Road Not Taken and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, but what about Robert Frost's less-well-known poems? Well, perhaps Spring Pools *is* well-known to everyone except me.
I came across this poem yesterday and it made my brow furrow, since I thought I'd read all the famous poems of his. So is this poem of his not very popular? Well, I for one like it a lot: the images are constructed nicely and they're not overpowering, tucked neatly inside the form of the poem. The only problem I might have with this poem is the its form, unlike most of his more famous poems, is--to me--lacking. The rhyme scheme is fine, but the way the words are put together in some places just seemed, I don't know--clunky. Not that it's a bad poem, just not in line with my aesthetic tastes.
The line "blot out and drink up and sweep away" felt a little too much; too many parallel structures. But perhaps that's what Frost wanted, for the reader to feel a little uncomfortable when reading that line. Frost was a skilled enough poet that I don't think he ever wrote anything without intention; although--like any poet--even some of his published poems might have been more juvenile attempts at mastering the craft. After all, not every poem that a good poet writes is good by default.
In the end, I still like this poem. I resonate with the seasonal images he uses, and the way he executes them is still classic Frost: simple words arranged in simple ways, but put together with other words to make something beautiful. And, as usual, the ending brings a nice thoughtful twist to the poem that opens it up to more possible meanings.
Besides, I have a soft spot for poetry that deals with nature. I love hiking and other activities that have me enjoying the great outdoors. There's such splendor and beauty and majesty in nature, tucked under fern fronds and hidden away in tree stumps. There are so many poems in the forests and the mountains waiting to be plucked like wild strawberries. Frost, through his poetic career, has gathered quite a bushel basket of hidden poems, another favorite of mine being Design.
I may in subsequent Fridays look at more of Frost's poems, probably more lesser-known ones. Tomorrow (Sunday) I'll take a look at one of John Donne's Holy Sonnets. Have a nice day!
P.S. I should have written this post yesterday as per my schedule, but yesterday was so hectic that I didn't even get to think about blogging until 2 AM...and I was much too tired.
| 38 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
