Poems are not just paragraphs of words. They are clauses of emotions. Clauses of stories. A poet brings out the best emotion through the simple usage of words. Such an exceptional example is the famous poet Robert Frost. You may have read some of his poems during your schooling. Or you may have heard your parents or grandparents talk about his greatness. But you may not know his journey to becoming one of the most celebrated poets in America.
Early steps
Source: brainspicking.org
Robert Frost was born in San Francisco in 1874. As a child, he was made to move a lot. He traveled from San Francisco, Pennsylvania, and Lawrence in Massachusetts. Attended both Dartmouth College and Harvard University in Boston. He pursued his lifelong interest in English and literature. Although he never got any diploma or a degree.
Although he already had his gifts as a poet, it took some time before the bloom of his gifts. He has experience in various other occupancies which he did after leaving school. He has worked as a cobbler and a teacher. In fact, he has also worked as an editor of a newspaper.
His first ever poem published in America “ My Butterfly: an Elegy” is published in The Independent, a literary journal, of New York. It was published in 1894 when he was just 20 years old. His poems were being published in England by then. But his first American poem debut is forementioned.
Frost’s inspiration and work
He was inspired by great British writers and poets such as Edward Thomas, Robert Graves, and Rupert Brooke. Their uniques sense of style and mesmerizing poems moved the heart of young Frost. He also had the privilege to meet up with his idols while he was abroad. During one such trip, he befriended the poet Ezra Pound.
Pound is the first person who helped publish Frost’s first ever poem. He published two full volumes of his collections in England; A Boy’s Will and North of Boston. By 1915, he already became an established poet. Who was praised for his style of “ Writing what I want to”. He defied the so-called poetic norms and wrote poems filled with stories, love, sadness and every possible emotion of humankind know at that point.
With this, he became a huge hit in the States. His collections would be sold out as soon as they would be published. The new generation at that time could easily connect with Frost’s views and ideas. Some of his earlier collections published in America are; Steeple Bush, In the Clearing, and A Further Range.
Originally, his works were based on life in England. The scenery, livelihood, and traditions. His poems bring out the culture of New England and reflected largely upon universal themes and human psychology.
Most celebrated poet in America
Frost’s work was so well received that his fame and reputation succeeded him. He is a very honored poet not just for his work, but for also the amazing personality he has. He has won 4 Pulitzer prizes for his fantastic work.
In addition, he was also presented with the Congressional Gold Medal. What made him a celebrated poet is the way in which he would bring out the best of the rural life in New England. Although his poems were about New England, it is still accepted largely across the whole of the country. This is mainly because of his speech. And the reflection of reality in life.
His portrayal of ordinary life in the poems caught the eyes of many readers. By not following the usual way of writing, he even caught the attention of many other young poets. Due to his peaceful radical way, he has had many bestsellers. One of them being North Of Boston which became very famous during World War I. It is because of this bestseller that his career as a poet rose like an exponential graph. After this, not just well-known magazines reached out to him, but large publishers too.
Along with his life as a farmer and poet, Robert Frost lectured in colleges as a professor too. He managed to maintain a reasonably moderate lifestyle. He utilized his gift as a poet throughout his journey. So much so that he became the most celebrated poet of the 20th Century.
Source: art.com
Career-wise Robert Frost had a colorful life. That is not the case in his personal life. Due to childhood trauma, he remained an unhappy child, yet with a kind heart. Just like his mother, he too had depression. He passed away at the age of 88 at his home.
Notable Works
All of Frost’s works are with the read. You would just enjoy reading them, sitting by the window and sipping a hot coffee. Reading all of them at one go is difficult. Here are some of his notable works:-
- New Hampshire: A Poem With Notes and Grace Notes
- Collected Poems
- A Further Range
- A Witness Tree
- After Apple Picking
- Mending Wall
- Mountain Interval
Do give all these a read and more of his fantabulous works.
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