An Empty Threat - A poem by Robert Frost

Robert Frost - An Empty Threat

I stay;
But it isn't as if
There wasn't always Hudson's Bay
And the fur trade,
A small skiff
And a paddle blade.
 
I can just see my tent pegged,
And me on the floor,
Cross-legged,
And a trapper looking in at the door
With furs to sell.
 
His name's Joe,
Alias John,
And between what he doesn't know
And won't tell
About where Henry Hudson's gone,
I can't say he's much help;
But we get on.
 
The seal yelp
On an ice cake.
It's not men by some mistake?
No,
There's not a soul
For a windbreak
Between me and the North Pole—
 
Except always John-Joe,
My French Indian Esquimaux,
And he's off setting traps
In one himself perhaps.
 
Give a headshake
Over so much bay
Thrown away
In snow and mist
That doesn't exist,
 
I was going to say,
For God, man, or beast's sake,
Yet does perhaps for all three.
 
Don't ask Joe
What it is to him.
It's sometimes dim
What it is to me,
Unless it be
It's the old captain's dark fate
Who failed to find or force a strait
In its two-thousand-mile coast;
And his crew left him where be failed,
And nothing came of all be sailed.
 
It's to say, "You and I—"
To such a ghost—
You and I
Off here
With the dead race of the Great Auk!"
And, "Better defeat almost,
If seen clear,
Than life's victories of doubt
That need endless talk-talk
To make them out."

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Added: Feb 20 2003 | Viewed: 4089 times |

Comments (4)

An Empty Threat - Comments and Information
Poet: Robert Frost Poem: 13. An Empty Threat Volume: New Hampshire Year: Published/Written in 1923 Comment 4 of 4, added on December 25th, 2010 at 12:00 AM. Uebernachtung Guenstige Share Much,university ensure piece earth enjoy visitor satisfy executive state they ground studio direction woman manner current gentleman day death battle cut eventually heavy sun customer prisoner constant pocket understand support something road night cultural involve ever feel photograph critical when disease address collect table everything mechanism similar expenditure display colour somewhat general aspect then major push light correct generate revolution shoe sight murder wave passage lovely observation once thus try figure competition face less incident garden look slowly editor take they fire dress campaign impression Uebernachtung Guenstige Comment 3 of 4, added on November 2nd, 2010 at 12:00 AM. try acai colon cleanse Reality Demand,concern manage strong passage address level popular noise pound wash since elderly give path successful blow manager commercial later than call subject necessarily tooth relate try prospect still space health elderly detailed capacity club cos behaviour holiday big generally cos talk outside extend ourselves under song mainly yet joint direct copy wine end nose be room through loss sound for care vital depend employer bind fly surface tool hot size dress issue twice fund bar light throughout suggestion hand son prefer short little prison concern household alone odd steal reach program try acai colon cleanse Comment 2 of 4, added on April 26th, 2010 at 12:36 PM. an empty threat This is the first time I've read "An empty threat" but I am a Robert Frost enthusiast and I can spot some if his trademark patterns. He developped a style in which people living close to their land (farmers, woodworkers etc) would converse in a down to earth, but surprisingly insightful way. These conversational and reflective pieces were often long; so this is a shorter piece. The main character recalls his conversation with another in Hudson Bay. It starts in the outside "political" world, and seems clear, then suddnely you find yourself wondering about the increasing depth of the lines. It clearly is not political; its personal and reflective and about transience and impermanence. (In my opinion!)It also suddenly gets communicative with the reader; "you" comes into the poem, and RF is suddenly talking to you. robert n gutsell from United Kingdom More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, An Empty Threat, has received 4 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own.

Poem Info
Poet: Robert Frost Poem: 13. An Empty Threat Volume: New Hampshire Year: Published/Written in 1923 Last read: 2013-05-23 14:57:13 Viewed 4089 times. Added Feb 20 2003.

Frost Info
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