Weekly Reader

There are so many wonderful books on my shelves that never get opened. I feel like I owe them a good cracking-open every so often, so I'm starting a weekly tradition of reading one each week and writing about it.

Book: Perrine's Literature
History: College text - 1522 pages
Comments: Shame on me!! I cannot believe this is the first time in five years that I've opened this book! Just reading the titles of the stories and poems brings me back to how much I love lit and how much I enjoy analyzing it. Ahh yes... A Doll House... that was a late night paper.

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 remember first reading this poem in middle school. I've always liked Frost's works very much because I am able to envision myself in the setting he describes (a peaceful winter night if this case) and I can usually relate to his symbolism. Here, I compare myself to the speaker in the poem. I so often would like to stop and smell the roses, so to speak, but have to do other more responsible things instead. I also relate to the sort of inner monologue that takes place. The repetition at the end is the pefect ending to this poem.
You know a writer's words are great when you want to go to the winterland he describes even though you've just lived through the most miserable winter weather of your life!

My Monday got a lot better when I opened this book this evening. Reading my handwritten notes has made me nostalgic. Where did such deep thoughts come from? I can guarantee you this book is coming off the shelf more often from now on.