“In three words I can
sum up everything I’ve learned about life:
it goes on.” – Robert Frost
I’ve always loved the poetry of Robert Frost and
thought about his imagery and attention to the land while recently driving and walking in the rugged countryside of western Nebraska and
eastern Wyoming. I don’t think Frost
ever visited there, but I’m sure if he had we would have had another great book
of poems about the experience.
Frost
was born 145 years ago in California (on March 26) but grew up and spent most of his life in
New England.
His realistic depictions of rural life, the beauty of the
land, and command of American colloquial speech – all while examining
complex social
and philosophical themes – may never be equaled. Poetry is a simple
process, he liked to say; just an emotion finding a thought and
the thought finding its words.
Like every writer he hit dry periods, but unlike many he had something to say about that. “Poets,” he noted, “are like baseball pitchers. Both have their moments. It’s the intervals that are the tough things.”
The only poet to win four Pulitzer
Prizes, he also was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal and named
Poet Laureate of Vermont. A great teacher, at some of America's greatest colleges, he liked to say that education
is hanging around until you’ve caught on.
“I talk in order to understand,” he said. “But I teach in order to learn.”
No comments:
Post a Comment