Personal Choice 63

Robert Frost

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

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.

Robert Frost

Robert Lee Frost (1874 - 1963) was an American poet. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. His work frequently employed themes from the early 1900s rural life in New England, using the setting to examine complex social and philosophical ideas. A popular and often-quoted poet, Frost was honoured frequently during his lifetime, receiving four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry.

In my estimation after a lifetime of reading and teaching poetry this is one of the very, very best. It is one of those poems that reveals more depths every time you read it and one that my students have taught me more about than I have ever taught them!