'The Pasture' by Robert Frost
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
I'm going out to clean the pasture spring;
I'll only stop to rake the leaves away
(And wait to watch the water clear, I may):
I shan't be gone long. -- You come too.
I'm going out to fetch the little calf
That's standing by the mother. It's so young,
It totters when she licks it with her tongue.
I shan't be gone long. -- You come too.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Pasture by Robert Frost: A Masterpiece of Simplicity and Depth
When you think of Robert Frost, what comes to mind? Perhaps his most famous poem, "The Road Not Taken," with its iconic lines about taking the path less traveled. Or maybe you think of "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," with its haunting refrain that lingers long after you've finished reading.
But there's another Frost poem that deserves just as much attention and admiration: "The Pasture." It's a short, unassuming poem that seems almost too simple at first glance. But like so much of Frost's work, there's a depth and complexity to it that reveals itself the more you read and think about it.
The Poem
Before we dive into the interpretation of "The Pasture," let's take a look at the poem itself:
I'm going out to clean the pasture spring;
I'll only stop to rake the leaves away
(And wait to watch the water clear, I may):
I sha'n't be gone long.—You come too.
I'm going out to fetch the little calf
That's standing by the mother. It's so young,
It totters when she licks it with her tongue.
I sha'n't be gone long.—You come too.
On the surface, it's a simple poem about a farmer going to tend to his animals and his land. There's no grand imagery, no elaborate metaphors or similes. It's just a matter-of-fact description of a routine task.
But as we'll see, there's much more going on beneath the surface.
Interpretation
At its core, "The Pasture" is a poem about connection. It's about the connections we have to the land, to our animals, and to each other.
The first stanza sets the stage: the speaker is going out to "clean the pasture spring" and rake the leaves away. But he's not just doing it for himself. He invites the listener to come along: "You come too." This is a poem that's meant to be shared.
And then there's the parenthetical aside: "And wait to watch the water clear, I may." This is a beautiful, almost meditative moment. The speaker isn't just doing a chore; he's taking a moment to appreciate the natural world around him. He's inviting the listener to do the same.
The second stanza deepens the theme of connection. The speaker is going to "fetch the little calf / That's standing by the mother." Here we have a tender moment of connection between parent and child, and between human and animal. The calf "totter[s] when she licks it with her tongue," a sweet and poignant image.
And once again, the speaker invites the listener along: "You come too." This is a poem that's all about shared experience.
But there's more going on here than just a simple celebration of connection. There's a subtle tension running beneath the surface.
Notice how the speaker keeps reassuring the listener: "I sha'n't be gone long." He says it twice, as if he's worried the listener might be hesitant to come along. And then there's the fact that he's doing all of this work alone. Why isn't there someone else there to help him?
It's as if the speaker is trying to convince himself as much as the listener that everything is okay. That he's not lonely, that he's perfectly content to be doing this work alone. But the fact that he keeps repeating himself suggests otherwise.
And then there's the title: "The Pasture." It's a simple, unassuming title, but it carries a lot of weight. The pasture is a symbol of the speaker's connection to the land, to his animals, and to his way of life. But it's also a reminder that all of this is temporary. The pasture will eventually give way to something else, whether it's development or simply the passage of time.
There's a bittersweet quality to "The Pasture." It's a poem that celebrates connection and shared experience, but it's also a poem that acknowledges the impermanence of those things. The speaker is trying to hold onto something that's slipping away, and he's inviting the listener to share in that struggle.
Conclusion
"The Pasture" may be a short and simple poem, but it's a masterpiece of understated complexity. It's a poem that celebrates connection and shared experience, but it's also a poem that acknowledges the impermanence of those things. It's a poem that invites the listener to join in the speaker's struggle to hold onto something that's slipping away.
Robert Frost was a master of using simple language to convey deep and complex ideas, and "The Pasture" is a perfect example of that. It's a poem that rewards multiple readings and careful consideration. So the next time you're in the mood for some Frost, don't just reach for "The Road Not Taken" or "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." Give "The Pasture" a try. You won't be disappointed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Pasture: A Masterpiece by Robert Frost
Robert Frost, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for his ability to capture the essence of nature and human emotions in his works. His poem, The Pasture, is a perfect example of his mastery of the craft. The poem, which was first published in 1915, is a simple yet profound piece that explores the beauty of nature and the human desire for connection.
The poem begins with the speaker inviting someone to join him on a walk through the pasture. The opening lines, "I'm going out to clean the pasture spring; / I'll only stop to rake the leaves away," set the scene for a peaceful and tranquil journey through the countryside. The speaker's use of the word "clean" suggests that he is not only going to enjoy the beauty of nature but also to tend to it, to make it better.
As the poem progresses, the speaker's invitation becomes more personal. He says, "I sha'n't be gone long. —You come too." This line is significant because it shows the speaker's desire for companionship. He doesn't want to experience the beauty of nature alone; he wants someone to share it with him. The use of the word "you" is also important because it makes the poem more inclusive. The speaker is not addressing a specific person but rather anyone who is willing to join him.
The second stanza of the poem is where the speaker's love for nature becomes more apparent. He describes the beauty of the pasture in vivid detail, saying, "I'm going out to fetch the little calf / That's standing by the mother. It's so young, / It totters when she licks it with her tongue." The speaker's use of imagery here is remarkable. He paints a picture of a mother cow and her calf, highlighting the tenderness and care that exists in the natural world.
The third stanza of the poem is where the speaker's desire for connection becomes more explicit. He says, "I'm going out to fetch the little calf / And set him on his feet again. / Only you mustn't linger when I'm gone." Here, the speaker is not only inviting someone to join him on his journey but also asking them to be present in the moment. He wants them to experience the beauty of nature with him and not get distracted by other things.
The final stanza of the poem is where the speaker's invitation becomes more urgent. He says, "I sha'n't be gone long. —You come too." This repetition of the earlier line shows that the speaker is eager for someone to join him. He doesn't want to experience the beauty of nature alone, and he wants someone to share it with him.
The Pasture is a beautiful poem that explores the human desire for connection and the beauty of nature. The speaker's invitation to join him on a journey through the pasture is not only an invitation to experience the beauty of nature but also an invitation to connect with another human being. The poem's use of vivid imagery and repetition makes it a masterpiece of modern poetry.
Editor Recommended Sites
Terraform Video: Video tutorials on Terraform for AWS and GCPML SQL: Machine Learning from SQL like in Bigquery SQL and PostgresML. SQL generative large language model generation
New Friends App: A social network for finding new friends
Knowledge Management Community: Learn how to manage your personal and business knowledge using tools like obsidian, freeplane, roam, org-mode
Data Visualization: Visualization using python seaborn and more
Recommended Similar Analysis
Despair by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysisAnecdote Of The Jar by Wallace Stevens analysis
Francesca by Ezra Pound analysis
Birches by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Hap by Thomas Hardy analysis
Sonnet LX by William Shakespeare analysis
A Dream Pang by Robert Frost analysis
To Ireland In The Coming Times by William Butler Yeats analysis
Waterfall and The Eglantine, The by William Wordsworth analysis
The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes analysis