The BlueIris Semi-Nightly Poetry Break, 11/3/07 Bonus

[BlueIris]

"Leaves Compared With Flowers"

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

—Robert Frost

[BlueIris]

1. I can't decide if I think Frost's poems are under or overrated.

[XemaSab]

3. I think they're misinterpreted

If you view them as being macabre and sinister poems about depression, loneliness, and fear--even suicide-- that's pretty much what I think he's on about.

[BlueIris]

4. I'm inclined to agree.

I've met a lot of Frost fans who get violently angry about how misrepresented his messages were.

[XemaSab]

6. I had a moment of total comprehension with "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening."

That's some dark shit right there. :(

[BlueIris]

7. So is "The Road Less Traveled."

I can't believe people read that as a poem encouring people to take the road.

[XemaSab]

8. But it's INSPIRATIONAL!

It's read at HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS! :o

[BlueIris]

2. Robert Frost bombs. What a shock.

:nuke:

[RetroLounge]

5. I like Frost...

I'm not sure he is the major poet he's made out to be, but he is good, nonetheless.

RL