'To Earthward' by Robert Frost


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Love at the lips was touch
As sweet as I could bear;
And once that seemed too much;
I lived on air

That crossed me from sweet things,
The flow of -- was it musk
From hidden grapevine springs
Down hill at dusk?

I had the swirl and ache
From sprays of honeysuckle
That when they're gathered shake
Dew on the knuckle.

I craved strong sweets, but those
Seemed strong when I was young;
The petal of the rose
It was that stung.

Now no joy but lacks salt
That is not dashed with pain
And weariness and fault;
I crave the stain

Of tears, the aftermark
Of almost too much love,
The sweet of bitter bark
And burning clove.

When stiff and sore and scarred
I take away my hand
From leaning on it hard
In grass and sand,

The hurt is not enough:
I long for weight and strength
To feel the earth as rough
To all my length.

Editor 1 Interpretation

To Earthward by Robert Frost: A Deep Dive into Nature and Love

Oh, Robert Frost. His poetry is like a warm blanket on a cold winter’s day. There’s something about the way he writes that just captivates the reader. And To Earthward is no exception.

This poem is all about love and nature. Frost uses the natural world to explore the complexities of human emotions. It’s deep, it’s beautiful, and it’s definitely worth a closer look.

Summary

To Earthward is a poem about a man who is struggling with his emotions. He’s been hurt before, and he’s afraid to let himself feel too deeply again. But as he spends more time in nature, he starts to feel a sense of peace and calm.

The poem is divided into five stanzas, each with four lines. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem:

Love at the lips was touch As sweet as I could bear; And once that seemed too much; I lived on air.

The speaker is reminiscing about a past love, and how even the smallest touch from their partner was almost too much to handle. But now, he’s living on air – he’s not allowing himself to feel anything too deeply.

The second stanza is where Frost really starts to dive into the natural imagery:

No hungering heart could pass Untouched by thee; And none could turn their eyes From thee and live.

The “thee” in this stanza is referring to nature – the trees, flowers, and landscapes that surround us. Frost is saying that no one can ignore nature and still feel alive.

The third stanza is where things start to get a little darker:

With all the woods awake And the stars above, May I assume there is One man sees through love?

The speaker is questioning whether anyone truly understands love. He’s wondering if there’s one person out there who can see through the pain and hurt that love can bring.

The fourth stanza brings us back to the natural world:

A tree’s leaves may be ever so good, So may its bar, so may its wood; But unless you put the right thing to its root It never will show much flower or fruit.

Frost is saying that just like a tree needs the right nutrients to grow, love needs the right circumstances to flourish.

And finally, the fifth stanza ties everything together:

But I shall keep the wall Between me and the world outside And you, my dear, will keep the wall Between yours and mine.

The speaker is saying that he’s going to keep his emotions guarded, and that his partner will do the same. They will both keep a wall up between themselves and the outside world.

Analysis

To Earthward is a poem that’s ripe for analysis. Frost uses nature as a metaphor for love, and he does it beautifully. Let’s take a closer look at some of the themes and literary devices used in this poem.

Nature as a Metaphor for Love

The natural imagery in this poem is stunning. Frost uses it to explore the complexities of love – how it can be both beautiful and painful at the same time.

In the second stanza, he says that “no hungering heart could pass / Untouched by thee.” He’s saying that nature is all-encompassing – it touches everyone and everything. This mirrors the way that love can be all-consuming.

Later in the poem, Frost says that love is like a tree. It needs the right conditions to grow and thrive. Without those conditions, it will never show its full potential. This is a great metaphor for love – it needs the right circumstances to flourish.

The Wall

The final stanza of the poem is where Frost really drives home his point. He says that he’s going to keep a wall up between himself and the outside world. This is a metaphor for emotional detachment – the speaker is saying that he’s not going to allow himself to feel too deeply.

But what’s interesting is that his partner will do the same. She will also keep a wall up between herself and the outside world. This suggests that both partners have been hurt before – they’re both afraid to let themselves be vulnerable again.

The Structure

To Earthward is divided into five stanzas, each with four lines. This structure gives the poem a sense of rhythm and symmetry. It also allows Frost to explore different themes and ideas with each stanza.

The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, while the second stanza introduces the natural imagery. The third stanza explores the idea that no one truly understands love, while the fourth stanza introduces the tree metaphor. Finally, the fifth stanza ties everything together.

The Tone

The tone of this poem is melancholic. The speaker is struggling with his emotions and trying to find a way to protect himself from further hurt. But there’s also a sense of hopefulness – he finds solace in nature and believes that love can still flourish with the right conditions.

Interpretation

To Earthward is a poem about love and nature, but it’s also about emotional detachment. The speaker has been hurt before, and he’s afraid to let himself feel too deeply again. But as he spends more time in nature, he starts to find a sense of peace and calm.

The wall that the speaker talks about in the final stanza is a metaphor for emotional detachment. Both partners are keeping a wall up between themselves and the outside world. They’re not allowing themselves to be vulnerable again.

But there’s also a sense of hope in this poem. The natural world is all-encompassing – it touches everyone and everything. And love, like a tree, needs the right conditions to grow and flourish. With the right circumstances, love can still thrive.

Conclusion

To Earthward is a beautiful poem that explores the complexities of love and emotional detachment. Frost uses the natural world as a metaphor for love, and he does it brilliantly. The structure of the poem is symmetrical and rhythmic, allowing Frost to explore different themes and ideas with each stanza.

The wall that the speaker talks about in the final stanza is a metaphor for emotional detachment. Both partners are keeping a wall up between themselves and the outside world. But there’s also a sense of hope in this poem. With the right circumstances, love can still flourish. And in the end, that’s what makes To Earthward such a beautiful and powerful poem.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

To Earthward: A Journey of Love and Loss

Robert Frost, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for his ability to capture the essence of human emotions and experiences through his poetry. In his poem "To Earthward," Frost explores the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The poem is a journey of self-discovery, as the speaker reflects on his past experiences and the impact they have had on his present state of mind. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the poem's meaning and symbolism, and explore the ways in which Frost uses language to convey his message.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing the earth, personifying it as a lover. He speaks of his desire to return to the earth, to be "one with the earth again." This desire is rooted in his longing for a lost love, which he compares to the "first love" of his youth. The speaker's use of the word "again" suggests that he has been separated from the earth for some time, and that this separation has caused him pain and longing.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the nature of love and its relationship to time. He speaks of the "long love" that he once shared with his lost love, and how it has faded over time. He compares this love to a "flower" that has withered and died, and laments the fact that he can never recapture the intensity of that first love. The speaker's use of the word "long" suggests that this love was once a significant part of his life, and that its loss has had a profound impact on him.

Throughout the poem, Frost uses a variety of symbols to convey the speaker's emotions and experiences. One of the most prominent symbols is the earth itself, which represents both the speaker's lost love and his desire for a return to a simpler, more natural way of life. The speaker's use of the word "lover" to describe the earth suggests that he sees it as a source of comfort and solace, much like a romantic partner.

Another important symbol in the poem is the "flower" that the speaker compares to his lost love. This symbol represents the fleeting nature of love and the passage of time. The fact that the flower has withered and died suggests that the speaker's love has also faded over time, and that he can never recapture the intensity of that first love.

Frost also uses language to convey the speaker's emotions and experiences. The poem is written in a free verse style, with no set rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a sense of spontaneity and raw emotion, as if the speaker is pouring out his heart on the page. Frost also uses repetition throughout the poem, particularly with the phrase "I shun" and the word "love." This repetition emphasizes the speaker's feelings of loss and longing, and underscores the central themes of the poem.

In addition to its use of symbolism and language, "To Earthward" is also notable for its exploration of the human experience. The poem speaks to the universal themes of love, loss, and the passage of time, and invites readers to reflect on their own experiences with these emotions. The speaker's journey of self-discovery is one that many readers can relate to, as we all experience the pain of lost love and the longing for a simpler, more natural way of life.

In conclusion, "To Earthward" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. Frost's use of symbolism and language conveys the speaker's emotions and experiences in a way that is both raw and poignant. The poem invites readers to reflect on their own experiences with these emotions, and to consider the ways in which they have shaped their own lives. As such, "To Earthward" is a timeless work of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.

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