Thursday, April 7, 2022

Frost (Robert) #AtoZChallenge

Today, we turn to a poet.

Robert Frost, even years after his death, is still popular, his poems loved even by people who don't get much into poetry.

I've loved his poetry since I was introduced to a couple of his famous poems in school.

During a 2021 visit to Bennington, Vermont, we visited Robert Frost's grave in the graveyard of this small city's First Congregational Church.  

The First Congregational Church of Bennington, Vermont.

Before we visit Frost's grave, how about investigating at least one other grave?

I like to visit old graveyards. There were a number of 19th century graves in the cemetery where Frost and his family are buried, but this one intrigued me because it seems to be in excellent condition for a stone marking the grave someone who died in 1842.  This may be the grave of the father of American Unitarianism, William Ellery Channing. 

I'm not as educated about symbolism on gravestones of the 18th and 19th century as I could be. 

Meanwhile, here is the Frost family gravesite. You'll note two children died young,. One died at a day old and the other when he was four (cholera). His wife died at the age of 64.

These two poems were nearby. "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening" is one of his most famous poems.

Here are Frost's thoughts about graveyards.

Finally, Frost was invited to the 1961 inauguration of President John F. Kennedy to read a poem.  He wrote a poem for the occasion but wind and glare prevented him from reading the poem.  So he switched to a poem, The Gift Outright, which he knew by heart.  

"F" day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme: "From Florida to Vermont With Stops In Between".  

Tomorrow, back to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

14 comments:

  1. ...a place to put on my to see list.

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  2. Wow gave me goose bumps


    I love Frost...both poems and quotes...we don't get such humans any more..in three words I can pretty much sum up life...it goes on....lovely that u visited

    A to z....http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/

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  3. Two roads diverged in the woods... his stark simplicity always struck me. Profound from the plain.

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  4. Remembered Frost. Thank you. A to Z challenge makes you write. Write and interact with a big blogger community.
    Effectiveness, Efficiency and Excellence - Engineering Supervision

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  5. Forgot how wonderful Frost was. Love his poem about graveyards. Gave me a shiver, but in a good way.

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  6. I agree, old graveyards are fascinating places. Sad too, with so many babies dying at birth or soon after. The stones age so beautifully.

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  7. What a beautiful old church and cemetery

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  8. Cemeteries can be fascinating.

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  9. Interesting pictures from the graveyard. It's no accident that Frost's poetry remains so popular. The message of his poetry is understandable and it touches the heart.

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  10. I love visiting old cemeteries. That looks like a really good one.

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  11. I remember the story about Frost not being able to read the new poem and going withg one he knew. Interesting to see it after all these years.

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  12. I remember- vaguely- that Frost performance

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  13. Wow! First time that I hear his voice!! The final para of 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening' is immortal!

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