'A Cliff Dwelling' by Robert Frost
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Steeple Bush1947There sandy seems the golden sky
And golden seems the sandy plain.
No habitation meets the eye
Unless in the horizon rim,
Some halfway up the limestone wall,
That spot of black is not a stain
Or shadow, but a cavern hole,
Where someone used to climb and crawl
To rest from his besetting fears.
I see the callus on his soul
The disappearing last of him
And of his race starvation slim,
Oh years ago -- ten thousand years.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry Analysis: "A Cliff Dwelling" by Robert Frost
Are you a fan of Robert Frost's poetry? Do you enjoy reading about nature and the human experience? If so, "A Cliff Dwelling" is a poem that you'll definitely want to check out. This classic work by Frost explores themes of time, memory, and the interconnectedness of all things in the natural world.
At its core, "A Cliff Dwelling" is a meditation on the passage of time and the way it affects our perceptions of the world around us. The poem begins with the speaker describing a cliff dwelling that he has come across in his travels. He marvels at the ancient architecture and the way that the building seems to be a part of the rock itself, as if it has grown out of the stone over time.
As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the people who once lived in the dwelling and the way that their lives were intertwined with the natural environment. He imagines the inhabitants looking out over the valley and watching the seasons change, observing the cycle of life and death that plays out in the natural world.
One of the most striking features of "A Cliff Dwelling" is the way that Frost uses language to evoke a sense of timelessness and interconnectedness. He describes the cliff dwelling as a "stubborn thing" that "stood out against the sky" for "a thousand years". This sense of longevity and permanence is contrasted with the ephemeral nature of human life - the people who once lived in the dwelling are long gone, but their spirits seem to linger on in the landscape.
Throughout the poem, Frost also uses language to blur the boundaries between the human and natural worlds. He describes the cliff dwelling as having a "natural look" and imagines the inhabitants as being "one with the wind and trees". The implication here is that the people who once lived in the dwelling saw themselves as part of the natural world, rather than separate from it.
This idea of interconnectedness is further reinforced in the final stanza of the poem, where the speaker reflects on the passage of time and the way that all things are connected. He writes:
It looked as if no one had lived there for years.
But the glass pane of the window glittered with something
it caught—sun?—or a moon like a moon of ice.
What held it though on one curved pane together
Was the tree’s last gesture. One limb that took
Its leave and tied itself to all the others.
Here, the tree is depicted as a symbol of the interconnectedness of all things in the natural world. The limb that has taken its leave and tied itself to the others represents the idea that even in death, all living things are connected to one another.
In addition to its themes of time and interconnectedness, "A Cliff Dwelling" also explores the idea of memory and the way that the past is preserved in the landscape. The cliff dwelling itself is a testament to the people who once lived there and the way that they adapted to the natural environment. The speaker imagines the inhabitants "watching the nightfall, hearing the stones speak/All that they knew was what the stones told." In this way, the stones themselves become a repository of memory, preserving the stories of the people who once lived there.
Overall, "A Cliff Dwelling" is a powerful and evocative meditation on the passage of time, the interconnectedness of all things, and the way that memory is preserved in the natural world. Frost's language is rich and vivid, painting a picture of a world that is both timeless and ever-changing. If you're a fan of nature poetry, or if you simply enjoy exploring the deeper themes of the human experience, "A Cliff Dwelling" is a poem that you won't want to miss.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a form of art that has the power to transport us to different worlds, evoke emotions, and make us see things in a new light. Robert Frost, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, was a master of this craft. His poem "A Cliff Dwelling" is a perfect example of his ability to create vivid imagery and explore complex themes.
At first glance, "A Cliff Dwelling" seems like a simple description of a natural landscape. The poem begins with the speaker describing a cliff that rises "sheer out of the sea-foam and the tumultuous waves." The cliff is described as "bare" and "rugged," with "no sign of life" except for "a few gray bushes." The speaker then goes on to describe the "cliff-dwellers," a group of people who live in caves on the cliff face.
The imagery in this poem is stunning. Frost's use of language creates a vivid picture of the cliff and the people who live there. The cliff is described as "sheer," "bare," and "rugged," which gives the reader a sense of its size and roughness. The use of the word "tumultuous" to describe the waves adds to the sense of danger and chaos that surrounds the cliff. The "gray bushes" are a stark contrast to the roughness of the cliff, and their color suggests a sense of bleakness and desolation.
The description of the cliff-dwellers is equally vivid. They are described as "dwellers in the dark" who "live like bats" in the caves. The use of the word "dark" suggests a sense of mystery and danger, while the comparison to bats adds to the sense of otherness and strangeness. The fact that the cliff-dwellers are "hidden from view" adds to their sense of isolation and secrecy.
But there is more to this poem than just a description of a landscape. Frost uses the imagery of the cliff and the cliff-dwellers to explore deeper themes. One of the main themes of the poem is the idea of isolation and loneliness. The cliff-dwellers are described as living in the dark, hidden from view, and cut off from the rest of the world. They are isolated from society and live a life of solitude.
This theme of isolation is further explored in the final stanza of the poem. The speaker describes how the cliff-dwellers "must have felt the stir of loneliness" and how they "must have wanted to be nearer to the world." This suggests that even though the cliff-dwellers have chosen to live in isolation, they still feel the pull of human connection and the desire to be a part of something larger than themselves.
Another theme that Frost explores in this poem is the idea of survival. The cliff-dwellers are described as living in a harsh and unforgiving environment, where the waves crash against the cliff and the wind howls through the caves. Yet they have managed to survive in this environment, adapting to their surroundings and finding a way to make a life for themselves.
This theme of survival is also explored in the final stanza of the poem. The speaker describes how the cliff-dwellers "must have learned to live" and how they "must have found some formula for survival." This suggests that even though the cliff-dwellers live in isolation and face many challenges, they have managed to find a way to survive and thrive.
In conclusion, "A Cliff Dwelling" is a powerful poem that explores themes of isolation, loneliness, and survival. Frost's use of vivid imagery and language creates a picture of a harsh and unforgiving landscape, and the people who have managed to make a life for themselves in this environment. The poem is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the ability of people to adapt and survive in even the harshest of conditions.
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