The Rose Family - A poem by Robert Frost

Robert Frost - The Rose Family

The rose is a rose,
And was always a rose.
But the theory now goes
That the apple's a rose,
And the pear is, and so's 
The plum, I suppose.
The dear only know
What will next prove a rose.
You, of course, are a rose--
But were always a rose.

Added: on December 20th, 2008 at 1:53 PM | Viewed: 19671 times | Comments and analysis of The Rose Family by Robert Frost Comments (23)

The Rose Family - Comments and Information
Poet: Robert Frost (Robert Frost Art) Poem: 3. The Rose Family Volume: West-Running Brook Year: Published/Written in 1928 Comment 23 of 23, added on May 26th, 2009 at 10:44 PM. Yes i agree this poem means you're beautiful Brenn from Philippines Comment 22 of 23, added on December 20th, 2008 at 2:16 PM. To me this poem is saying, yes, yes, you're all beautiful, you're all equal, as that is the politically correct thing to say and think, but the truth is that a rose is somehow the superior being in the flower kingdom and some people are "royal" - and yes, that thought may be being delivered ironically or sarcastically; but it also could be coddling someone whom he wants to reassure, like a jealous lover. I think it, again, may relate to the theme of poetry itself and Frost watching how anything goes and it's all so legit as poetry, but is it and did he really believe that? I doubt it. ea Comment 21 of 23, added on December 20th, 2008 at 1:53 PM. I think that it is examining the cliche of the word "rose" to represent beauty, in addition to, like mentioned above, begging the question of "what's in a name?". If, as time progresses, any old apple or even plum can be defined as a "rose", then it is not a matter of apples and plums becoming more beautiful, but rather the distortion of their perception. A plum, could appear to a lover as a 'rose' if he is biased by the emotional bond between himself and the plum. However, Frost is showing, whoever he has written the poem about, that she is classically beautiful, in his eyes and all others, and neither the apple-lover nor the plum-lover can deny this. He states that the woman in question's beauty will always remain, in comparison to the other women mentioned, of which he cynically questions "What will next prove a rose". In this love poem, Frost questions our perception of beauty through shrewd metaphor. Jess from Canada More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Rose Family, has received 23 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Robert Frost with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Robert Frost Poem: 3. The Rose Family Volume: West-Running Brook Year: Published/Written in 1928 Last read: Dec 11 2009, 1:07PM Viewed 19671 times. Added on December 20th, 2008 at 1:53 PM.

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