In his opening essay, Frost proclaims that “…poetry…is metaphor, expressing one thing while meaning another, presenting one thing in terms of another, the delight of hidden significance. Poetry is simplicity crafted from metaphor.”

My copy of The Poems of Robert Frost is like a precious treasure ship, its two old, stained green covers bearing the marks of time. I have been poring over it for more than 50 years. Although it is a bit battered and worn, whenever I open it, it seems to shine with an inner light.

I am not bold enough to name “my favorite” poem, as my opinion keeps changing each time I read through them anew. Frost is truly a master teacher. He has discovered an abundance of the perfect words and arranged them in such a harmonious order.

I have always taken great pleasure in “The Last Word of a Bluebird (as told to a child).” The Crow conveys the little Bluebird’s final message to Lesley. In his deep and solemn voice, he brings news of the north wind and the approaching winter cold that forces the Bluebird to flee. The kind-hearted bird urges Lesley to be good and makes a promise that “…perhaps in the spring/He would come back and sing.”

I am eagerly waiting for the spring to arrive, and in the meantime, I have this wonderful book to keep me company and help me while away the time.

Read more of my book reviews and poems here: www.richardsubber.com

Most of the poetry that we read during high school originated from our textbook anthologies.

However, we were mandated to purchase this specific volume in addition to the regular text.

I read it either during my freshman year with Ms. Yates or my sophomore year with Ms. Naden.

Unlike the majority of other poets, aside from Sandburg, I was already acquainted with Frost due to the publicity that was bestowed upon him regarding his reading at the Kennedy White House.

This exposure made him stand out in my mind even before I delved into his works in the purchased volume.

The anticipation of reading his poetry was heightened by this prior knowledge, and I was eager to explore the depth and beauty of his words.

As I began to read the poems in that particular volume, I was immediately captivated by Frost's unique style and the profound themes he addressed.

His ability to paint vivid pictures with his words and convey complex emotions made his poetry truly engaging and memorable.

Looking back, I am grateful for the opportunity to have discovered Frost's poetry through that additional volume, as it has had a lasting impact on my appreciation for literature.

To truly understand, one has to analyze deeply,

yet that might precisely be the allure of it.

It is a good collection that demands such in-depth exploration.

When we analyze, we are delving into the intricacies and hidden layers of the subject matter.

This process allows us to uncover meanings and connections that might otherwise remain unnoticed.

The beauty lies in the discovery, in the realization that there is more to it than meets the eye.

A good collection is like a treasure trove, waiting to be unearthed and explored.

Each piece within it holds a story, a unique charm that adds to the overall beauty and value of the collection.

By analyzing deeply, we can fully appreciate the artistry, the craftsmanship, and the thought that went into creating it.

It is through this process of understanding that we can truly connect with the collection and find joy and inspiration in it.

Although I have a partiality for the more melancholy poems, I also truly appreciate the humor within them.

It must be said that in the edition I read, I thought there was an excessive amount of commentary. As a result, I skipped most of it and simply focused on reading the poems themselves.

I don't desire to be informed of the "meaning" of each and every poem. Instead, I much prefer to form my own unique response.

I believe that allowing myself to engage with the poems on a personal level, without the interference of someone else's interpretation, enriches my experience and understanding of the poetry.

It gives me the freedom to explore the emotions, images, and ideas that the poems evoke within me, and to create my own connections and interpretations.

This way, I can truly immerse myself in the beauty and power of the poetry and discover its meaning for myself.

I was truly anticipating something entirely different. To be honest, most of it lacked significant substance, and I simply couldn't fathom its appeal. There were scarcely a few poems that managed to capture my attention. Perhaps this was because I had been envisioning it to possess an existential depth, not merely being naturalistic or filled with imagery that lacked far-reaching metaphors. Even the rhymes in some parts seemed rather forced and devoid of much rhythm.

Honestly speaking, I really don't have a clue where to classify it among my preferences, when compared to Thoreau's naturalistic works and the profound existential poetry of Rumi, Gibran, or Khayyam. This particular piece is something else entirely and just doesn't seem to be of my taste.

It leaves me with a sense of disappointment and confusion, as it didn't meet the expectations I had set for it. I had hoped for something more profound and engaging, but unfortunately, it failed to deliver on that front.

Robert Frost is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished poets of the last 200 years. His works have the remarkable ability to vividly portray a simple country life in a way that is not only endearing but also enduring.

Frost's poems are filled with rich descriptions of rural landscapes, farmers, and their daily activities. Through his words, he brings to life the beauty and simplicity of the countryside, making the reader feel as if they are right there experiencing it themselves.

However, Frost's poetry goes beyond just描绘乡村生活. It also points to deeper spiritual, eternal, and existential truths about the human condition. His poems explore themes such as love, loss, mortality, and the search for meaning in life.

In conclusion, Robert Frost's poetry is a testament to his talent and wisdom. His ability to capture the essence of country life and use it to explore profound human truths has made him one of the most beloved and respected poets of all time.

I had read some of his poems, such as "Mending the wall" and "the snowstorm", but not all of them, until now. I had not realized how great and famous Frost was during his lifetime. Now I understand better.

I simply love and admire his farmland poetry. It reminds me of numerous aspects of my own youthful life in the countryside (albeit in Austria). And then he charms with his profound human understanding, being amorous, grumpy, hopeful, or disappointed. He sings of trees and flowers, birds and butterflies, even ants and insects. He knows their songs and sounds, their smells and perfumes, right down to the earth, mud, and dust. His diverse style keeps you reading without pause. Funny, witty, clever, direct, and indirect, creepy and ghostly, etc.

I believe that many of his poems could be expanded into novels if written out, as there is so much material and potential.

This is one of the poetry books that I will keep on my bedside table, just like those of Emily Dickinson, Li Po, and Kipling.

The poems were truly awesome.

They had a certain charm and beauty that completely captivated my attention.

I found myself completely engrossed in the words, the rhythms, and the emotions they conveyed.

In fact, I was so taken with the poems that I totally ignored the commentary part of the book.

I felt that the poems spoke for themselves and that I didn't need any additional explanations or interpretations.

I wanted to experience them on my own terms, to let my imagination run wild and to form my own connections and understandings.

Each poem was like a little world unto itself, and I was eager to explore every nook and cranny.

It was a wonderful and enriching experience, and I can't wait to read more poems like these.

I had to undertake this task and I accomplished it. However, the quality was inconsistent. I made an attempt to relish Louis Untermeyer's inserted commentary. His remarks are universally, hyperbolically, and annoyingly filled with praise. Nevertheless, at times, the factual details he provides can be rather helpful. I chose to pretend that it was a window through which I could窥探 how men wrote and talked in 1960s America. If this were indeed the case, it would be quite bad!!

Some of the poems included are "Birches," "Mending Wall," "Two Tramps in Mud Time," "The Impulse," "For Once, Then, Something," "The White-Tailed Hornet," "Two Look at Two," and "Happiness Makes Up in Height What It Lacks in Length." These poems offer a diverse range of themes and styles, each contributing to a unique literary experience.

Overall, while the task had its challenges, it also provided an opportunity to explore different aspects of literature and gain a better understanding of the works and the commentary associated with them.

Few, if any, writers possess the remarkable ability to so powerfully capture the strange within the mundane. In fact, they can also unearth the mundane within the strange, revealing a world of such subtle beauty in both. It is as if they have a unique lens through which they view the ordinary and the extraordinary, finding hidden gems and unexpected charm. Their words have the power to transport readers to a different realm, where the familiar becomes unfamiliar and the strange becomes oddly comforting. They can take the simplest of things, like a flower blooming in a neglected corner, and turn it into a profound meditation on life and beauty. Or they can describe a strange dream and make it feel as real as the world around us. Through their writing, they show us that there is beauty and wonder in everything, if only we know where to look.

One word - Awesome. I'm not much of a poetry enthusiast, and I rarely like them. However, I must say that Robert Frost is completely different. Each of his poems seems to represent more than meets the eye. Poems like "The Road Not Taken", "Out, Out-", and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" are simply epic.

These poems convey profound philosophies of life with subtle hints and deceptively simple lines. They make you think deeply about the choices we make, the brevity of life, and the beauty of nature.

For anyone who enjoys reading, especially poetry, I highly recommend that this book is definitely worth reading. Even if you don't love poems, I would ask you to read at least the aforementioned poems with great patience and analysis. I assure you that you won't regret the time you invest.

*You can also read this review and some others here at my website too.*

What a truly wonderful collection it is! With the incisive commentary provided by Louis Untermeyer, it offers such profound insights into both the poet Robert Frost and his remarkable body of work.

Besides the well-known 'The Road Not Taken', I have discovered many new favorites. I have laughed heartily at his delightful whimsy and spent time reading and reflecting on some of his deeper, more profound and perhaps darker works.

I am simply in awe of his masterful and evocative use of words throughout all his poems, prose, stories, and songs.

While reading this book with my son, he playfully told me to "quit 'fan-girling.'" But it was already too late! (Poetry might not be his passion, but it most definitely is mine.) We are reading through three poems per week as part of our homeschooling curriculum, which accounts for the length of our reading time. I couldn't help but read ahead to finish the book. Now, I'm eagerly looking forward to getting my hands on Robert Frost's 1962 collection, 'In the Clearing'.

I'm sure it will be another captivating exploration of Frost's literary genius.