A Beautiful Poem

And the Winter Solictice

This coming Saturday, December 21, is the winter solstice. What better way to make a note of it than with this haunting and beautiful poem by Robert Frost? I invite you to listen to the poem recital above.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Robert Frost
1874 –1963

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's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is a wonderful poem filled with vivid imagery, simple language, and deep meaning. On the surface, it describes a quiet moment when the speaker pauses during a journey to watch snow fall in the woods. Beneath this simple scene is a deeper reflection on life, duty, and the pull of rest.

The opening establishes a calm, peaceful, and solitary setting. The speaker observes the woods, which seem to exist apart from the bustling activity of human life. Their owner is absent, living in the nearby village, and this detail highlights the contrast between human responsibilities and the untouched mystery of nature. The speaker, alone in this setting, feels free to reflect and immerse himself in the quiet beauty of the woods.

There is a suggestion that the speaker's pause is unusual and symbolic. The woods and frozen lake evoke feelings of isolation. The darkest night of the year adds a sense of both literal and figurative darkness to the scene. It could represent the winter solstice or reflect a deeper emotional or spiritual darkness, such as weariness or longing for peace, perhaps even death.

There is the horse's reaction, as its movements remind the speaker of his deviation from the usual path. Despite this, the stillness and beauty surrounding him captivate the speaker. The quiet atmosphere, with only the faint sounds of wind and snow, underscores the woods' peaceful allure, which contrasts with the demands of daily life. The closing lines bring the central tension of the poem into focus.

The horse represents practicality, routine, and what we owe to everyday life. The horse reminds us of the world outside of this intimate moment with nature, as the speaker pauses to wonder at the beauty of the stillness around him in the snowy wilderness.

Symbolically, the horse runs counter to the seduction of the woods. The woods signify rest and escape, even death. The horse signifies life’s demands and its forward motion. It is the voice of reason and responsibility, holding the speaker to his obligations.

The horse’s presence emphasizes the tension in the poem, a pull between the desire to stop and the need to fulfill one’s obligations. It functions as a silent pillow for the speaker’s further thoughts, returning him to the road that lies ahead.

The speaker acknowledges the woods as a place of profound beauty and rest, perhaps even symbolizing the ultimate peace of death or the longing for a break from life's challenges. However, the recognition of his responsibilities brings him back to reality. He remembers the promises he must keep, and the journey is still ahead. The repetition of this thought emphasizes the weight of those obligations and the inevitability of continuing forward, even as the woods call to him with their quiet stillness.

The poem is remarkable for its balance of simplicity and depth. The vivid imagery draws readers into the scene, while the broader themes leave room for interpretation. The journey is a metaphor for life itself, with the speaker's pause reflecting moments of reflection or the temptation to stray from the path. It speaks to the universal tension between the yearning for rest and the demands of duty. 

Again, there is the haunting suggestion of death when the speaker says: "And miles to go before I rest. And miles to go before I rest."