Design - A poem by Robert Frost

Robert Frost - Design

I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
On a white heal-all, holding up a moth
Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth --
Assorted characters of death and blight
Mixed ready to begin the morning right,
Like the ingredients of a witches' broth --
A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,
And dead wings carried like a paper kite.

What had that flower to do with being white,
The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?
What brought the kindred spider to that height,
Then steered the white moth thither in the night?
What but design of darkness to appall?--
If design govern in a thing so small.

Added: on November 15th, 2009 at 10:44 PM | Viewed: 45196 times | Comments and analysis of Design by Robert Frost Comments (31)

Design - Comments and Information
Poet: Robert Frost (Robert Frost Art) Poem: Design Volume: A Further Range Year: Published/Written in 1936 Poem of the Day: Sep 14 2006 Comment 31 of 31, added on January 15th, 2010 at 1:23 PM. loved it I think the tone of the poem is absolutely the point of doubt and the poet wants us to doubt the same thing he doubts negar hesari from Iran Comment 30 of 31, added on December 2nd, 2009 at 5:25 PM. Design The whole point of this poem is to make the reader wonder about what initially may seem like design in nature. Frost doesn't necessarily come down one way or the other. Frost was well-read on Darwinism, and in many of his writings he ponders what the fact of evolution would mean for humanity and our ideas about purpose and design. Of note is that Stephen Jay Gould (famous American paleontologist) quoted this poem in his keynote presentation at the Skeptics Society Gould Festschrift, when talking about the lack of design in nature. Justin Wagner from Canada Comment 29 of 31, added on November 15th, 2009 at 10:44 PM. Frost's "Design" The piece is a commentary on "design" arguments for the existence of God. The argument proceeds simply as follows: Nature reveals a design so precise that a designer of that nature must exist, i.e., God. The poem's response: one being's design for good is another's design for evil. What works for the spider is a disaster for the moth...thus, the "God" that is argued for depends on t e perspective, whether the design enhances or collapses life. Keith from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Design, has received 31 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: Design Volume: A Further Range Year: Published/Written in 1936 Last read: Feb 9 2010, 4:39PM Poem of the Day: Sep 14 2006 Viewed 45196 times. Added on November 15th, 2009 at 10:44 PM.

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