Happy Day 100
And miles to go before I sleep.
And miles to go before I sleep.
It has been a wonderful journey recording 100 Days of Happiness. I conclude with a book review I will present tomorrow -Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening", illustrated by Susan Jeffers. It is especially appropriate to acknowledge my blessings and reasons to rejoice. I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.
I have had a love for Robert Frost poetry almost all my life. His simple words speak to me and I identify with his simplicity and multi-layers. He drew his language primarily from the vernacular, simple language of the common man, by employing the accent of a soft-spoken New Englander. His friend, Ezra Pound declared, "I know more of farm life than I did before I read his poems. That means I know more of 'life.'" He endeavored to make his style approximate as closely as possible the style of conversation. He was able to portray people and scenery with a vividness which is extraordinary all the while, speaking from his heart. Frost said, "A complete poem is one where an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found the words." Contemplation, reflection, analytical examination, honesty. Words to savor, ponder and apply - answers to life's hard questions. Also questions for life's questions.
Some call "Stopping by Woods" poetic perfection. As Frost tells it, he had worked all night finishing "New Hampshire" and dawn broke just as he finished. Going out into the breaking light, he had the idea for a new poem "about the snowy evening and the little horse." He "wrote it quickly in a few minutes without strain as if I had had a hallucination." After "Stopping by Woods" was published in 1923, Frost said, "it is my best bid for remembrance."
When asked to interpret "Stopping by Woods", Frost declined. I love him for that. He knew we each see life through a different lens and perspective. Our journeys are unique and our interpretations are just that - our own. That's why I love poetry. Depending on our awareness, maturity, insight, and life's experience - poetry can express feelings of our heart we are unable to voice.
Pondering Frost has enriched my life and helped me better understand life's challenges and meaning. I hope you enjoyed this simple little book - one of my treasures. As I reread today, I felt pure joy - joy in solitude, joy in contemplation, awareness of my attraction to the "Woods", grateful the horse gave his bells a shake, joy in gathering, joy in keeping promises, joy in pressing forward with hope. "I know more of life." It is my wish that you will find the strength and courage to keep your promises and look forward with hope and feel peace. We all have miles to go before we sleep. I wish you joy in this season and always. In 2000 Pierre Trudeau's son rephrased the last stanza in his eulogy:
"The woods are lovely dark and deep. He has kept his promises and earned his sleep."
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
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