A winter garden in an alder swamp,
Where conies now come out to sun and romp,
As near a paradise as it can be
And not melt snow or start a dormant tree.
It lifts existence on a plane of snow
One level higher than the earth below,
One level nearer heaven overhead,
And last year’s berries shining scarlet red.
It lifts a gaunt luxuriating beast
Where he can stretch and hold his highest feat
On some wild apple tree’s young tender bark,
What well may prove the year’s high girdle mark.
So near to paradise all pairing ends:
Here loveless birds now flock as winter friends,
Content with bud-inspecting. They presume
To say which buds are leaf and which are bloom.
A feather-hammer gives a double knock.
This Eden day is done at two o’clock.
An hour of winter day might seem too short
To make it worth life’s while to wake and sport.
(Robert Frost)
More Poetry from Robert Frost:
Robert Frost Poems based on Topics: Nature, Snow, Winter, Friendship, Sports- After Apple Picking (Robert Frost Poems)
- A Considerable Speck (Robert Frost Poems)
- In white: Frost's Early Version of Design (Robert Frost Poems)
- The Vanishing Red (Robert Frost Poem)
- The Generations of Men (Robert Frost Poem)
- The Grindstone (Robert Frost Poem)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Nature Poems, Friendship Poems, Snow Poems, Winter Poems, Sports PoemsBased on Keywords: highest, level, apple, flock, eden, lifts, garden, knock, buds, overhead, berries