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

I think it's about the remorse one feels after rejecting the validity of silver linings in the world.

Obviously he's grouchy, wishing, willing, and trying the bird away to the point of exasperation, yet at the turning point he realizes that it's not the bird who is at fault, but him, for not acknowledging the beauty of the bird's song before he drove it away.

I think this poem is actually straightforward, rather than allegorical. We don't always like the things we think we ought to like, and are internally conflicted and guilty.

what a great poem...it made my blood go faster into my veins...

awesome poem..so simple yet so beautiful a true masterpiece.. :)

i think its about how poor people suffer in this world. In this poem, the poet has used the word Minor with the intention of referring to poor people. the rich person shows very little appetite in listening to what poor says. he wants to chase away the poor person. But soon after accomplishing his sinister objective, he realizes that he has done something wrong. the rich person tells to himself that for there to be poor people, something wrong has been done by the rich persons in this society and we cannot simply put the blame on poor people. finally the poet tells to himself that if rich people wants to stop crying of these humbles, necessarily there should be something wrong with the society. At this particular time, even though he represents rich, he comes out of his inherited class and looks at rich persons in a questioning mind.

i think its about the how poor people suffer in this world. In this poem, the poet has used the word Minor with the intention of referring to poor people. the rich person shows very little appetite in listening to what poor says. he wants to chase away the poor person. But soon after accomplishing his sinister objective, he realizes that he has done something wrong. the rich person tells to himself that for there to be poor people, something wrong has been done by the rich persons in this society and we cannot simply put the blame on poor people. finally the poet tells to himself that if rich people wants to stop crying of these humbles, necessarily there should be something wrong with the society. At this particular time, even though he represents rich, he comes out of his inherited class and looks at rich persons in a questioning mind.

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