The Armful - A poem by Robert Frost

Robert Frost - The Armful

For every parcel I stoop down to seize
I lose some other off my arms and knees,
And the whole pile is slipping, bottles, buns,
Extremes too hard to comprehend at. once
Yet nothing I should care to leave behind.
With all I have to hold with~ hand and mind
And heart, if need be, I will do my best.
To keep their building balanced at my breast.
I crouch down to prevent them as they fall;
Then sit down in the middle of them all.
I had to drop the armful in the road
And try to stack them in a better load.

Added: on December 11th, 2005 at 7:04 PM | Viewed: 4705 times | Comments and analysis of The Armful by Robert Frost Comments (6)

The Armful - Comments and Information
Poet: Robert Frost Poem: 35. The Armful Volume: West-Running Brook Year: Published/Written in 1928 Poem of the Day: Dec 21 2003 Comment 6 of 6, added on May 29th, 2007 at 1:53 PM. Obviously such a seasoned poet as Robert Frost would not write a poem about parcels but about the symbolic struggles of life. Not only do the "bottles, buns..." symbolize the complexities of living such a stressed life and juggling many things, but also the things that one must live with for his entire life. The death of several of Frost's children occurred earlier in his life, and he must deal with their deaths along with living a normal life full of these other stressful things. Brian from United States Comment 5 of 6, added on May 21st, 2007 at 8:09 PM. Many people have experienced this situation at least once, and they know how frustrating it can be. One can easily relate to these circumstances. The poem is not necessarily about an armful that is hard to carry, but a mind that is full of stress and tension. The mind contains strains that the owner does not know how to manage. Frost’s poem describes a troubled mind that is packed with too many impossible thoughts and worries. These thoughts and worries are tremendously complicated to organize. slow joe crow from Australia Comment 4 of 6, added on December 11th, 2005 at 7:04 PM. This poem is a symbol of all the "things" we have to deal with happy or sad as they are. Sometimes you can't carry them all but have to work at them. Robert Frost uses a lot of symbolism in his poems. Demi from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Armful, has received 6 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: 35. The Armful Volume: West-Running Brook Year: Published/Written in 1928 Last read: Jul 4 2008, 4:47PM Poem of the Day: Dec 21 2003 Viewed 4705 times. Added on December 11th, 2005 at 7:04 PM.

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