Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by 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.

    In the poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” Robert Frost illustrated the beauty of a frozen lake in the woods filled with snow. On the darkest evening of the year, the speaker is standing next to a frozen lake with his little horse. This scene, surrounded by the lovely, dark and deep forest, is separated from the civilized world, or the village in the poem. Because of this separation the woods are untouched by the human world and thus symbolizes nature. Also he describes that the only sound that can be heard is the harness bells of his horse and the sweep of easy wind. To me, this scenery of the forest and the ‘frozen’ lake came in a state of tranquility and peace. Furthermore, he utilizes the little horse to contrast the nature with the village. The harness bells on the horse are the representation of civilization because humans put them on for their own comfort. The sounds of the bells that ring out through the forest is out of place in the heart of mother nature.  

     Through the poem Frost illustrates the beauty and tranquility of nature while contrasting it with the civilized world. Furthermore, he purposefully describes this scene in the woods as ‘lovely’ which shows that he values the peacefulness and indifference of nature over the civilized world which is illustrated as the village and the farmhouse.  Considering that this poem was written after Frost experienced World War One, it can be inferred that the horror and shock of the war led him further away from civilization and closer to nature. However, he implies that his life is separate from his ideal life--living in the heart of mother nature--in the last part when he mentions that he has promises to keep and has miles go before sleep. It shows that although the narrator’s heart is in the forest he has duties left to do in the civilized world. The line “miles to go before I sleep”, means that he still has a lot of jobs to do in the civilized world. 

     As I grew up, my father always told me about his dream to live close to nature. I can’t dream of living away from civilization yet, however, I also do have a vague dream somewhat similar to my fathers. I can understand Frost’s longing towards nature for I also felt that way sometimes, such as when I went to the Grand Canyon or the Redwood National Park. I personally feel that one of the strongest advantages of KMLA is the location, surrounded by the beauty of nature. Perhaps, life in KMLA is somewhat closer to what Frost wanted.