Robert Frost, one of America’s most celebrated poets, is renowned for his exploration of rural life, nature, and human relationships. While his works often delve into themes of solitude and introspection, Frost also poignantly captures the essence of friendship and human connection. This article explores twelve of Frost’s poems that illuminate various facets of friendship, from its comforting presence to its complex dynamics.
12 Poems About Friendship by Robert Frost
1. “A Time to Talk”
In “A Time to Talk,” Frost emphasizes the importance of pausing our daily routines to engage with friends. The poem portrays a farmer who willingly sets aside his work to converse with a friend passing by:
When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don’t stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven’t hoed,
And shout from where I am, What is it?
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.
This poem, from Mountain Interval (1916), underscores the value of human connection over relentless labor. It serves as a reminder to prioritize relationships amidst life’s demands.
2. “Mending Wall”
“Mending Wall,” from North of Boston (1914), explores the paradox of boundaries in relationships. Two neighbors meet annually to repair the wall separating their properties, prompting reflections on the necessity and implications of such divisions:
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun;
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
While one neighbor insists, “Good fences make good neighbors,” the speaker questions this adage, suggesting that barriers may hinder genuine connection. The poem delves into the complexities of friendship, tradition, and individuality.
3. “The Tuft of Flowers”
In “The Tuft of Flowers,” also from A Boy’s Will (1913), Frost illustrates an unseen bond between two workers. The speaker, initially feeling isolated, discovers a patch of flowers left uncut by the previous mower:
But he had gone his way, the grass all mown,
And I must be, as he had been,—alone,
“As all must be,” I said within my heart,
“Whether they work together or apart.”
But as I said it, swift there passed me by
On noiseless wing a ’wildered butterfly,
Seeking with memories grown dim o’er night
Some resting flower of yesterday’s delight.
This discovery transforms the speaker’s solitude into a shared experience, highlighting the silent connections that unite individuals.
4. “The Death of the Hired Man”
This narrative poem from North of Boston (1914) delves into themes of duty, compassion, and the essence of home. An aging laborer, Silas, returns to the farm where he once worked, seeking refuge:
“Home is the place where, when you have to go there,
They have to take you in.”
“I should have called it
Something you somehow haven’t to deserve.”
Through the dialogue between Warren and Mary, Frost examines the responsibilities inherent in human relationships and the complexities of offering support to those in need.
5. “The Road Not Taken“
Often interpreted as a reflection on individual choices, “The Road Not Taken,” from Mountain Interval (1916), also touches upon the influence of companionship. Inspired by Frost’s friend Edward Thomas, the poem begins:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
The poem subtly acknowledges how friends can shape our decisions and the paths we choose in life.
6. “Bond and Free”
In “Bond and Free,” from A Boy’s Will (1913), Frost contrasts the allure of intellectual freedom with the grounding nature of emotional bonds:
Love has earth to which she clings
With hills and circling arms about—
Wall within wall to shut fear out.
But Thought has shaken his ankles free.
The poem reflects on the tension between the desire for independence and the comfort found in relationships, suggesting that true freedom may encompass both.
7. “A Line-Storm Song”
This early poem captures the transient nature of life and the solace found in companionship:
Come over the hills and far with me,
And be my love in the rain.
Through vivid imagery, Frost invites the reader to embrace the uncertainties of life, finding comfort in shared experiences and mutual support.
8. “Good Hours”
In “Good Hours,” Frost reminisces about solitary walks through a village, observing the warmth emanating from homes:
I had for my winter evening walk—
No one at all with whom to talk,
But I had the cottages in a row
Up to their shining eyes in snow.
The poem reflects on the yearning for connection and the quiet appreciation of communal bonds, even from a distance.
9. “Acquainted with the Night”
This introspective poem delves into themes of isolation and the human desire for connection:
I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain—and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.
While highlighting solitude, the poem also underscores the universal need for understanding and companionship.
10. “After Apple-Picking”
In “After Apple-Picking,” Frost contemplates the fatigue following a day’s labor and the dreams that ensue:
My long two-pointed ladder’s sticking through a tree
Toward heaven still,
And there’s a barrel that I didn’t fill
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn’t pick upon some bough.
The poem subtly touches on the shared human experiences of work, rest, and reflection, elements often enriched by companionship.
11. “The Pasture”
This short poem serves as an invitation, reflecting the warmth of welcoming someone into one’s life:
I’m going out to clean the pasture spring;
I’ll only stop to rake the leaves away
(And wait to watch the water clear, I may):
I shan’t be gone long.—You come too.
The repeated invitation “You come too” emphasizes the joy of shared experiences and the simple pleasures of companionship.
12. “Two Tramps in Mud Time”
In this poem, Frost explores the intersection of labor, passion, and the human desire for purpose:
But yield who will to their separation,
My object in living is to unite
My avocation and my vocation
As my two eyes make one in sight.
While focusing on individual fulfillment, the poem also acknowledges the broader human community and the interconnectedness of our pursuits.
Conclusion
Robert Frost’s poetry offers profound insights into the nature of friendship and human connection. Through his vivid imagery and contemplative narratives, Frost captures the essence of companionship, the complexities of relationships, and the enduring significance of shared experiences. His works continue to resonate, reminding readers of the value found in the bonds we forge with others.
