R.Frost 100th B’day

The air was soft, the ground still cold.
In wet dull pastures where I strolled
Was something I could not believe.
Dead grass appeared to slide and heave,
Though still too frozen-flat to stir,
And rocks to twitch, and all to blur.
What was this rippling of the land?
Was matter getting out of hand
And making free with natural law?
I stopped and blinked, and then I saw
A fact as eerie as a dream.
There was a subtle flood of stream
Moving upon the face of things.
It came from standing pools and springs
And what of snow was still around;
It came of winter’s giving ground
So that the freeze was coming out,
As when a set mind, blessed by doubt,
Relaxes into mother-wit.
Flowers, I said, will come of it.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Richard Wilbur's poem March 26, 1974

3 Comments

  1. Julianne says:

    I am in to poetry but, I’m not ver good at writing poems. I love all poets especially shel silverstein because his poems make me laugh and smile. This poet is good too! I love how this poet made his poem rhyme for all the right reasons.

  2. Janet Tower says:

    I read this poem years ago & just came across it again when finding this site. It is so lyrical that it almost seems musical to read. I just love it! Thanks.

  3. Tim Catania says:

    I found this by googling the date of my birth, and was not surprised by the reference to the centenary of Frost’s birth. This poem is perfectly done in the style of Frost, and I can’t believe nobody has even commented on it yet! Brilliantly done.

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