Provide, Provide - A poem by Robert Frost

Poet: Robert Frost (Robert Frost Art)
Poem: Provide, Provide
Volume: A Further Range
Year: Published/Written in 1936

Comment 13 of 13, added on November 13th, 2009 at 9:38 AM.

here in Canada, we love this poem and the mounties in my backyard loved it
too!! cool huh!! no but really this was an excellent poem!!

Sal from Canada

Comment 12 of 13, added on November 1st, 2009 at 5:08 AM.

here in ireland, we love this poem and the leprechauns in my backyard loved it
too!! cool huh!! no but really this was an excellent poem!!

David from Ireland

Comment 11 of 13, added on October 12th, 2009 at 10:26 AM.

I can witness to the line Frost added, on Paul Sirotta's cassette tape. I heard the added line in 1958 or 1959. Frost spoke at Mount Holyoke College, and what I have remembered vividly from that event is the added line to "Provide, Provide." He paused theatrically after reading the poem itself, and added "Cause if you don't, somebody else will provide for you," That line I'm sure of; I'm not so sure whether he added, "And how will you like that!" I do know I ran back to my room and looked up the poem, because I didn't remember those words in the printed poem. They weren't in the printed poem. I'm glad that they're on cassette, at least.

There's a new book (2009) Robert Frost: Speaking on Campus. It's edited by Edward Connery Latham, from transcriptions of tape recordings of Frost's campus appearances. The "provide, provide, or someone else will provide for you" did not make it into the book. It should have.

S Peterson from United States

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