Robert Frost (March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963 / San Francisco)

Another meaning that came to mind is that the bird, as in Maya Angelou's 'Caged Bird', is the metonymy for the people and his song is his voice. The people raise their voice to protest or to express their views on the social injustices of this time. But the speaker/poet is tired or feels annoyed to hear this all day long. So he does something to scare away the people expressing their views. Perhaps he wrote something to counter their views. He feels it is their right to air their discontent or views, so he feels guilty for his actions as he knows he is going against democracy and the principles of 'freedom of speech'.

I have observed that Robert Frost favourite metre is the 'anapaest' in trimetre. He observes standard structure of poetry or we can say 'traditional standards'.

This poem can be read in different layers of meaning. It could be interpreted 'literally' as an act of sour mood in which he does not tolerate the beauty of nature. However, poets use many devises to foreground language and create a deeper meaning. A similar devise was used by Maya Angelou in her poem 'Caged Bird'. So, the bird is a synechdoche or metaphor for a person who perhaps the speaker loves (could be a child or a lover) but is disturbed by him or her, even though her or his voice has all the beauty and charm. Hence, he expresses regret that his driving away a loving person is partly his fault and he wishes that he wouldn't have done that. In fact he feels guilt as he expresses: 'And of course there must be something wrong,
in wanting to silence any song.'

As so often with Frost, this simple poem works on more than one level.
The cry of geese flying to winter elsewhere, even the laughter of a child can strike a discordant note with us if we happen to be in an unreceptive mood.
As is clear from the fate of the rainforests, we ignore nature’s equal right to existence at our peril.
PS - Suggest you look up the meaning of 'diction, ' Anne.

There is no diction, but the choice of words is great.
It DOES have a traditional rhyme structure.
Overall, excellent poem, and very inspirational. This poem makes me relate to my past.







English Teacher(Wyoming)
-Anne

if only we were all as understanding of the world around us.

This is Robert Frost telling of a minor bird. That is a conclusion of mine as I listen to the song of the bird itself. The bird is an animal, and not meant for flight if it does not carry a song. His beautiful language is still to me vernacular, and it is a question in the mind that is exposed, just a special and general question.
He captured our mind with a new event, a new design.

I like Robert Frost's poems because they usually are positive, or at least end positively like this one. Frost recognized how silly it was to try and quiet a thing of beauty. ^_^