The first of December
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know,
His house is in the village though.
He will not see me stopping here,
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer,
To stop without a farmhouse near,
Between the woods and frozen lake,
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake,
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep,
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
— Robert Frost
I love this poem. It reminds me of the winters of my early childhood and my grandfather. He loved to takes us walking through the woods in the winter especially when there was snow. I think he loved that insulated silence. If I close my eyes I can still feel the biting cold on my cheeks and the comforting warmth of my hand sheltered in his.
It occurred to me last winter, as I was walking in my woods on just such moonlit evening, that my beloved grandfather would love it here where I live. As I continued on my way thinking of him and remembering, I could still feel the warmth of my hand in his.
I’m so looking forward to this seasons first snowy evening walk. Almost as good as the walk is returning home, making tea and curling up by the fire with my knitting. I do believe he’d have liked that part too, although his tea would have an extra kick to it.
Happy First day of December!
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Happy First day of December to you!! OMG…did you have some awesome frost this morning? Ours was pretty good!! And did you see the sunrise? Lordy…I thought of you all the way into PDX this morning, and wished we were out and about with cameras in hand…gloved hands, perhaps!! Glorious!
Wishing you an awesome day!! xo
I, too, love this poem. It speaks of peace and silence and reverence and a time gone by. Thanks so much for posting.
And today, December 1st, we had, in Sudbury, our first snowfall that looks like it’s going to stay. My knit group came this afternoon, so we sat in the living room and knitted in front of the decorated(by my grandchildren) Christmas tree. Knitting, looking at the tree, listening to Christmas carols(Libera dvd), and watching the snow fall outside was just a perfect way to spend the afternoon. I showed Judy how to knit socks on one circular(magic loop), showed Georgette how to cast on stitches across the gap where she’d cast off for a thumb, helped Elaine figure out a pattern typo, and generally got almost no knitting done on my own project(lol). Isn’t December a wonderful month? And, I’ve always loved Robert Frost!
Cheers and red wine, Hazel.
I forgot! I opened my Advent Calendar today-day one in my London, England Advent calendar and Big Ben chimed the hour.
Yesterday (the 1st of December) we got 6” of snow! Today, sunny and 60 degrees. I love Christmas time in Colorado!
Happy thoughts!
I think we are richest when we slow down and see the beauty around us, and recognize comfort in simple things.
I saw the title and instantly started reciting the poem in my head. Yes. Time to put on the ice skates and head for the frozen-over C&O;.
And because I’m late to the party here, best wishes to Steve. Knit long and prosper always.
(Stephen. My apologies on the misspell.)