Leaves Compared With Flowers Poem by Robert Frost

Leaves Compared With Flowers

Rating: 3.1


A tree's leaves may be ever so good,
So may its bar, so may its wood;
But unless you put the right thing to its root
It never will show much flower or fruit.

But I may be one who does not care
Ever to have tree bloom or bear.
Leaves for smooth and bark for rough,
Leaves and bark may be tree enough.

Some giant trees have bloom so small
They might as well have none at all.
Late in life I have come on fern.
Now lichens are due to have their turn.

I bade men tell me which in brief,
Which is fairer, flower or leaf.
They did not have the wit to say,
Leaves by night and flowers by day.

Leaves and bar, leaves and bark,
To lean against and hear in the dark.
Petals I may have once pursued.
Leaves are all my darker mood.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Zehla Torres 14 May 2021

This poem is very exotic, im from Argentina and very much enjoyed this poem where we dont have leaves or flowers.

0 1 Reply
Keille 19 March 2018

What is the Poetic Foot of this poem?

2 0 Reply
Brian Jani 13 July 2014

leaves compared with flowers, this is very creative idea for a poem.well done

2 2 Reply
* Sunprincess * 28 October 2012

wow..i love the leaves in the month of october.. the many different colours is so magical and a joy to behold..fabulous.. :)

6 0 Reply
Billy Davey 28 April 2012

There is a typo on line 17 (last stanza) : Bar should be bark.

7 8 Reply
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