'To Earthward' by Robert Lee Frost
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Love at the lips was touch
As sweet as I could bear;
And once that seemed too much;
I lived on air
That crossed me from sweet things,
The flow of--was it musk
From hidden grapevine springs
Downhill at dusk?
I had the swirl and ache
From sprays of honeysuckle
That when they're gathered shake
Dew on the knuckle.
I craved strong sweets, but those
Seemed strong when I was young;
The petal of the rose
It was that stung.
Now no joy but lacks salt,
That is not dashed with pain
And weariness and fault;
I crave the stain
Of tears, the aftermark
Of almost too much love,
The sweet of bitter bark
And burning clove.
When stiff and sore and scarred
I take away my hand
From leaning on it hard
In grass and sand,
The hurt is not enough:
I long for weight and strength
To feel the earth as rough
To all my length.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Deep Dive into Robert Frost’s “To Earthward”
As one of the most celebrated and iconic poets of the 20th century, Robert Frost gained fame for his simple yet profound works that often explored the complexities of people’s lives and relationships. In his poem “To Earthward,” Frost reflects on the bittersweet experience of falling in love and the painful realization that such intense emotions cannot last forever. This poem is a masterpiece of literary criticism that captures the human experience in a way that is both relatable and profound.
The Poem’s Structure
“To Earthward” is a six-stanza poem, each consisting of five lines. The poem’s structure is simple, yet deeply impactful, as it follows a repetitive pattern of ABABA rhyme scheme. This repetition creates a sense of stability and expectation throughout the poem, leading the reader to anticipate the next rhyme.
The poem’s first stanza sets the tone for the theme of love and desire, as Frost describes the physical sensations that come with falling in love. He writes:
Love at the lips was touch As sweet as I could bear; And once that seemed too much; I lived on air That crossed me from sweet things,
Here, Frost describes the feeling of being in love as something that is both exhilarating and consuming. The “touch” of love is “sweet,” but it also becomes “too much” for him, leaving him to “live on air.” This metaphor speaks to the insubstantial and transitory nature of love, as it is something that cannot be held or grasped.
In the second stanza, Frost takes a more introspective approach, reflecting on his own experience of falling in love. He writes:
And with that I had come To the end of travel. Then in sight of home I stood alone Haled inwardly with doleful love.
Here, Frost shifts from describing his physical sensations to exploring the emotional impact that love has on him. He describes feeling “haled inwardly with doleful love,” suggesting that the end of his journey has brought him to a place of vulnerability and sadness.
This idea is further explored in the third and fourth stanzas, where Frost describes the pain of not being able to hold onto love forever. He writes:
There could be nothing left, Set up against our gain. But I had the same Thing to say to myself every night Before I went to sleep:
I have been one acquainted with the night.
In these stanzas, Frost speaks to the fleeting nature of love, and the inevitability of its loss. He touches on the idea that love is something that must be experienced in the moment, as it cannot be held onto forever. The repetition of the phrase “I have been one acquainted with the night” creates a sense of despair and loneliness, as Frost acknowledges the pain of letting go of something that was once so powerful.
In the fifth stanza, Frost shifts his focus to the natural world, using imagery of nature to highlight the cyclical nature of life and love. He writes:
I have walked out in rain—and back in rain. I have outwalked the furthest city light. I have looked down the saddest city lane. I have passed by the watchman on his beat And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.
Here, Frost uses the image of rain to connect the cyclical nature of the seasons to the cyclical nature of love. The rain falls, and then it stops, only to fall again in the future – much like the emotions associated with love. He also describes the “saddest city lane,” suggesting that love can sometimes bring us into dark, isolated places.
Finally, in the sixth stanza, Frost concludes the poem with a sense of acceptance, as he acknowledges the inevitability of change and the need to move on. He writes:
I have been one acquainted with the night. I have walked out in rain—and back in rain. I have outwalked the furthest city light. I have looked down the saddest city lane. I have passed by the watchman on his beat And lifted my eyes—blind with the light, And cried out in a sudden delight At the things that are not seen, not felt, But yet are real to me.
Here, Frost suggests that there is hope and beauty to be found in the unknown and unseen. He ends the poem on an optimistic note, suggesting that even though love may fade, there is still a sense of wonder and magic to be found in the world.
Themes and Interpretations
There are several themes and interpretations that can be drawn from Frost’s poem “To Earthward.” One of the most prominent themes is the transitory nature of love and desire. Frost suggests that love is something that cannot be held onto forever, and that the intensity of feeling associated with it is fleeting. He also touches on the idea that love can be consuming and overwhelming, and that the pain of losing it is significant.
Another theme that emerges from the poem is the cyclical nature of life and love. Frost uses imagery of the natural world to highlight the cyclical nature of the seasons, and how this is mirrored in the cyclical nature of love. He also touches on the idea that change is inevitable, and that it is important to move on and find beauty in the unknown.
Finally, it is worth noting the religious undertones of the poem, particularly in the final stanza. Frost speaks of “the things that are not seen, not felt, but yet are real to me,” suggesting a belief in something greater than himself. This spiritual aspect of the poem adds another layer of meaning and depth to an already rich and complex work.
Conclusion
In “To Earthward,” Robert Frost has created a masterpiece of literary criticism that captures the human experience with all of its complexities and contradictions. Through his use of simple yet profound language, Frost explores the transitory nature of love and desire, the cyclical nature of life and love, and the importance of finding beauty in the unknown. This poem is a testament to Frost’s skill as a poet, and a reminder of the power and beauty of language.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry To Earthward: A Deep Dive into Robert Frost's Masterpiece
Robert Frost is one of the most celebrated poets in American literature, and his works continue to inspire and captivate readers to this day. Among his many masterpieces, Poetry To Earthward stands out as a powerful and evocative piece that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human experience. In this article, we will take a deep dive into this classic poem, analyzing its structure, language, and meaning to uncover the hidden depths of Frost's genius.
Structure and Form
Poetry To Earthward is a sonnet, a form of poetry that originated in Italy and became popular in English literature during the Renaissance. Sonnets typically consist of fourteen lines, with a specific rhyme scheme and meter. Frost's sonnet follows the traditional structure, with three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza). The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, with each line written in iambic pentameter, a meter that consists of ten syllables per line, with alternating stressed and unstressed syllables.
The use of the sonnet form is significant because it is traditionally associated with love poetry. However, Frost subverts this expectation by using the form to explore the darker aspects of love, such as obsession, loss, and despair. By using a familiar form in an unexpected way, Frost creates a sense of tension and unease that adds to the emotional impact of the poem.
Language and Imagery
One of Frost's greatest strengths as a poet is his ability to use language and imagery to create vivid and evocative scenes. Poetry To Earthward is no exception, with its rich and complex imagery that draws the reader into the speaker's emotional world.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing the earth, personifying it as a lover who has betrayed him. He describes the earth as "too dear" and "too near," suggesting that his love for it has become overwhelming and suffocating. The use of the word "dear" also implies a sense of loss, as if the speaker has lost something precious that he can never regain.
Throughout the poem, Frost uses natural imagery to convey the speaker's emotional state. He describes the "wind-worried" trees, the "dying" leaves, and the "frosty" ground, all of which suggest a sense of decay and decline. The use of these images creates a sense of foreboding and melancholy, as if the speaker is trapped in a world that is slowly dying around him.
The most powerful image in the poem is the final couplet, where the speaker compares his love for the earth to a "loveless eye" that "sees the trees and hears the hum of many waters." This image is both haunting and beautiful, suggesting that the speaker's love for the earth has become so intense that it has lost all meaning and become a kind of emptiness. The use of the word "loveless" is particularly striking, as it suggests that the speaker's love has become a kind of void, a space where nothing can grow or thrive.
Meaning and Interpretation
Like many of Frost's poems, Poetry To Earthward is open to multiple interpretations, and its meaning can be elusive and difficult to pin down. However, there are several themes and motifs that run throughout the poem, giving us clues as to its deeper meaning.
One of the most prominent themes in the poem is the idea of loss and decay. The speaker's love for the earth has become so intense that it has turned into a kind of obsession, causing him to lose touch with reality and become trapped in a world that is slowly dying around him. This theme is reinforced by the natural imagery that Frost uses throughout the poem, which suggests a sense of decay and decline.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of the human experience. Frost uses the speaker's relationship with the earth to explore the complex and often contradictory emotions that we all experience as human beings. The speaker's love for the earth is both beautiful and destructive, suggesting that our emotions can be both a source of joy and a source of pain.
Finally, the poem can be read as a commentary on the nature of love itself. Frost suggests that love can be both a source of beauty and a source of emptiness, and that our desire for love can sometimes lead us down dark and dangerous paths. The final couplet, with its haunting image of the "loveless eye," suggests that love can sometimes become a kind of void, a space where nothing can grow or thrive.
Conclusion
Poetry To Earthward is a masterpiece of American literature, a powerful and evocative poem that explores the complex and often contradictory emotions that we all experience as human beings. Through its use of structure, language, and imagery, Frost creates a world that is both beautiful and haunting, a world that speaks to the deepest parts of our souls. Whether read as a commentary on love, loss, or the human experience, Poetry To Earthward is a poem that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.
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