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Sunday, March 2, 2014

Birthdays in March: Robert Frost

When Kerry posted Robert Frost as our March birthday poet at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, I thought I'd found a nice easy challenge I could ace, because who of us in North America didn't study one or more of Frost's poems in high school and/or college?
Alas, when I looked up some of his poetry, I happened upon some with which I've been unfamiliar, and with which I'd have preferred to remain unfamiliar, depressing as they were.
So I thought that left me with The Road Less Travelled, and not much else, until I looked again today and realized how much I like, not the subject matter particularly, but the form of this Frost poem Kerry used as an illustration.
I love the way Frost has somehow made light of a scary proposition, and played with his couplets as well.



Ma told me woman's place is toil
               With pots to boil
And clothes to wash for man and child
She said I'd work until my brain
               Would pray for rain
And then recant, for rain would mean
The crops would grow and in between
               The rows, the weeds
Will fast outgrow our planted seeds
Unless I pull them, on my knees,
And God won't listen to my pleas
               To make them stop
               Before I drop
                             Away.
Kay Davies, March, 2014


13 comments:

Unknown said...

A woman's work is never done. I'll bet Ma told ya that, too!
;-)

Kenia Santos said...

You did not repeat that to your children, I'm pretty sure.

I refused to take my place. Was it a happy choice? I don't know... I can't tell for sure. I wish I had built a family.

Kiss. <3

Unknown said...

This is great Kay. The form is so true to frost but the content is all yours. I love the Mother / Daughter Dynamic here

Kay L. Davies said...

Actually, this is fiction. Mother and I were never the gardening type. And I never did have children, although my husband's daughters and their husbands have made me very happy to be a grandmother.
K


SquirrelQueen said...

Frost could be rather depressing. I like your poem. It sounds like women of the 50s and before. I like that we have choices today.

Sumana Roy said...

love both the content and the form
....nice tribute to Frost

Anonymous said...

for fiction it's very real, Kay ~

Kerry O'Connor said...

You have done wonders with Frost's simple yet powerful form, Kay.. and many a true word here.

Helen said...

Delightful write, Kay!!!

brudberg said...

A wonderful use of the form... and yes alas it describe a harsh truth... I'm a man.. but I think I can understand a woman's toil...hmm wonder if I could get better.

Kay said...

You are such an incredible poet, Kay! This is fabulous!

De Jackson said...

I love how you mirrored Frost's form, rather than his content. This is really well done.

Jenn Jilks said...

I often think of this poet. I really should get back to writing.