Two Tramps in Mud Time
Robert Frost [1874-1963]
Introduction
Robert Frost was born in San Francisco, the son of a schoolmaster. When Robert was 10 years old his father died and the family moved to Massachusetts in New England. At 14 he is said to have sold his first poem! In 1892 he left school and worked in a mill, then taught at a school, became a reporter and editor of a weekly. Then he joined Harvard and studied the classics for two years. Again he became a reporter, a shoe maker, and a teacher of English and Psychology. In 1912 he went to England and published A Boy's Will and North of Boston which made him famous. After his return to the U.S.A. he continued to write poetry.
Robert Frost is perhaps the best loved of American poets. He was awarded the Pulitzer prize for poetry four times in 1924, 1931, 1937 and 1943. His famous works include Mountain Interval (1916), New Hampshire (1923), Collected Poems (1930), A Witness Tree (1942), and In the Clearing (1962).
Signposts
1. The summary of the incident.
2. Self justification of poet's motives.
3-5. Amplify the instability of New England's seasonal climate.
6. The poet's optimism or well being.
7. A shift from the point of view from the interrupted author to the upraising lumberjacks.
8. The situation of the man who splits wood for love and the needy vagabonds who eye him in their extremity.
9. Fuses the coordination of love and need.
Poem in Detail
Stanza 1
One day in April, between winter and spring, the author was chopping wood in his yard when two strangers emerged out of the wood like sub-human creatures. One of them distracted the poet, greeting him in a cheerful voice. He suggested that the poet should split the wood with greater force. The poet knew why the tramp had stayed behind allowing his companion to go ahead. He also knew that the tramp wanted to do the poet's work for payment.
Stanza 2
The poet was splitting large blocks of wood of a beech tree—the blocks were big and shapely like the chopping block. Each time the poet struck the wood forcefully, wood fell in neat splinterless shapely pieces like rock split into small pieces. The poet believed that the life of self-control had given him greater strength. He realised that the extra energy that a life of self-control gave a person, should be used for doing some work for others' benefit. However, on that day he wished to pamper himself by using that extra energy on splitting wood.
Stanza 3
This stanza shows how the weather changes quickly during the time of transition from winter to spring. It was the month of April—the sun was warm but there was chill in the air. April is the month of unpredictable weather. When the sun is shining and the wind is not blowing, it looks as if you are in May—in the spring season. On the other hand, if you speak of the weather as if it is spring in May as referred to above, then you arc in for a surprise. A cloud suddenly covers the sky and wind flows from a cold mountain. Then it seems that you are not in May, but two months backward in winter in the middle of March.
Stanza 4
A bluebird gently lands facing the wind only to keep its feathers unruffled. The controlled shrill notes of the bluebird's song shows that it is aware that it is not yet spring time. It sings in such a way so as not to excite blossoms to bloom in its spring glory. The winter was only pretending to be dormant, while it was still snowing. The bluebird is not gloomy but he is blue in colour only. The bird would not advise blossoms to bloom because he knows that anytime winter may return and the blossoms will be destroyed by frost.
Stanza 5
Water is very scarce when we need it the most in the hot summer months. Then we have to hunt for it by digging the ground with the magic stick; but now water is found everywhere. At present there are rivulets in the ruts of the road made by the wheel of carts and every hoof-print of a horse is filled with water. While one may be glad about the apparent abundance1 of water one should remember that under the surface of the mud, frost is hidden, just waiting to emerge after the sunset. Then the frost will reappear on the surface of the water as a fine layer of crystal. In this stanza note the contrast between reality and appearance. There is plenty of water yet it is hidden. There is plenty of work for the busy poet yet the tramps who wish to work do not get a chance to work.
Stanza 6
The poet had always loved the work he was engaged in. His enthusiasm increased when the two tramps came and wanted to take away his work from him. This made him realise how much he enjoyed chopping the wood. One might think that the poet had never felt the weight of an axe as he lifted it above his head or the firm grip of his outspread feet on the ground. While splitting wood the muscles in the poet's body throbbed and he sweated profusely in the heat of the springtime.
Stanza 7
Now the poet remembers about the tramps who had emerged out of the woods. The poet wonders where the two hulking tramps had slept the previous night. The poet thinks that the tramps had spent the winter in a lumber camp but were now unemployed. That is why they had slept in some unknown place. The tramps assumed that it was their right to chop wood. Here the irresponsible life of the tramps is compared to the self-controlled life of the poet. The poet is amused at the thought that the tramps judged him by their own standards and thought him to be a fool from the way he handled the axe.
Stanza 8
Neither the poet nor the tramps said anything. The tramps decided to stay over and to look at him. They wanted the poet to understand that he had no right to do that work for pleasure. They needed that work to earn their living. By taking up their work for pleasure the poet was depriving them of their livelihood. Therefore, they had a better right to the job of splitting the wood. The poet understood that he worked for the love of splitting wood but the tramps wanted to work out of necessity. The poet agrees that where there is a choice between work for pleasure and work to earn a living the latter takes precedence.
Robert Frost is perhaps the best loved of American poets. He was awarded the Pulitzer prize for poetry four times in 1924, 1931, 1937 and 1943. His famous works include Mountain Interval (1916), New Hampshire (1923), Collected Poems (1930), A Witness Tree (1942), and In the Clearing (1962).
Signposts
1. The summary of the incident.
2. Self justification of poet's motives.
3-5. Amplify the instability of New England's seasonal climate.
6. The poet's optimism or well being.
7. A shift from the point of view from the interrupted author to the upraising lumberjacks.
8. The situation of the man who splits wood for love and the needy vagabonds who eye him in their extremity.
9. Fuses the coordination of love and need.
Poem in Detail
Stanza 1
One day in April, between winter and spring, the author was chopping wood in his yard when two strangers emerged out of the wood like sub-human creatures. One of them distracted the poet, greeting him in a cheerful voice. He suggested that the poet should split the wood with greater force. The poet knew why the tramp had stayed behind allowing his companion to go ahead. He also knew that the tramp wanted to do the poet's work for payment.
Stanza 2
The poet was splitting large blocks of wood of a beech tree—the blocks were big and shapely like the chopping block. Each time the poet struck the wood forcefully, wood fell in neat splinterless shapely pieces like rock split into small pieces. The poet believed that the life of self-control had given him greater strength. He realised that the extra energy that a life of self-control gave a person, should be used for doing some work for others' benefit. However, on that day he wished to pamper himself by using that extra energy on splitting wood.
Stanza 3
This stanza shows how the weather changes quickly during the time of transition from winter to spring. It was the month of April—the sun was warm but there was chill in the air. April is the month of unpredictable weather. When the sun is shining and the wind is not blowing, it looks as if you are in May—in the spring season. On the other hand, if you speak of the weather as if it is spring in May as referred to above, then you arc in for a surprise. A cloud suddenly covers the sky and wind flows from a cold mountain. Then it seems that you are not in May, but two months backward in winter in the middle of March.
Stanza 4
A bluebird gently lands facing the wind only to keep its feathers unruffled. The controlled shrill notes of the bluebird's song shows that it is aware that it is not yet spring time. It sings in such a way so as not to excite blossoms to bloom in its spring glory. The winter was only pretending to be dormant, while it was still snowing. The bluebird is not gloomy but he is blue in colour only. The bird would not advise blossoms to bloom because he knows that anytime winter may return and the blossoms will be destroyed by frost.
Stanza 5
Water is very scarce when we need it the most in the hot summer months. Then we have to hunt for it by digging the ground with the magic stick; but now water is found everywhere. At present there are rivulets in the ruts of the road made by the wheel of carts and every hoof-print of a horse is filled with water. While one may be glad about the apparent abundance1 of water one should remember that under the surface of the mud, frost is hidden, just waiting to emerge after the sunset. Then the frost will reappear on the surface of the water as a fine layer of crystal. In this stanza note the contrast between reality and appearance. There is plenty of water yet it is hidden. There is plenty of work for the busy poet yet the tramps who wish to work do not get a chance to work.
Stanza 6
The poet had always loved the work he was engaged in. His enthusiasm increased when the two tramps came and wanted to take away his work from him. This made him realise how much he enjoyed chopping the wood. One might think that the poet had never felt the weight of an axe as he lifted it above his head or the firm grip of his outspread feet on the ground. While splitting wood the muscles in the poet's body throbbed and he sweated profusely in the heat of the springtime.
Stanza 7
Now the poet remembers about the tramps who had emerged out of the woods. The poet wonders where the two hulking tramps had slept the previous night. The poet thinks that the tramps had spent the winter in a lumber camp but were now unemployed. That is why they had slept in some unknown place. The tramps assumed that it was their right to chop wood. Here the irresponsible life of the tramps is compared to the self-controlled life of the poet. The poet is amused at the thought that the tramps judged him by their own standards and thought him to be a fool from the way he handled the axe.
Stanza 8
Neither the poet nor the tramps said anything. The tramps decided to stay over and to look at him. They wanted the poet to understand that he had no right to do that work for pleasure. They needed that work to earn their living. By taking up their work for pleasure the poet was depriving them of their livelihood. Therefore, they had a better right to the job of splitting the wood. The poet understood that he worked for the love of splitting wood but the tramps wanted to work out of necessity. The poet agrees that where there is a choice between work for pleasure and work to earn a living the latter takes precedence.
Stanza 9
The poet wonders that some may accept the division of work for love and work for need. The poet is of the view that pleasure and need must be combined in work. It is only then that a man can reach the highest degree of achievement. In other words like the two eyes give one sight in man so also the two aspects as indicated above gives unique achievement. A man has to unite his need for work as well as his love for work. He needs to undertake his task with joy for the benefit of human beings. It is only then that the task pleases God and is done for the betterment of humanity in future.
Notes
Stanza 1
Tramp: a person without a settled home or regular work.
Mud time: the time of transition from winter to spring when snow melts and there is slush and mud everywhere.
put me off my aim: diverted my attention
hailing cheerily: greeting heartily.
dropped behind: stayed behind.
go on a way: continue his journey.
He wanted............ for pay: The tramps 'wanted to split the wood for a payment.
Stanza 2
beech: wood of a beech tree.
around: from all sides.
chopping block: a block of wood on which meat or vegetable is cut into small pieces.
squarely: honestly.
fell splinterless: large pieces of wood fell without being broken into fragments.
cloven rock: neatly split rock.
blows: efforts, strength.
spares: reserves.
strike: spend.
giving a loose to my soul: allowing my soul to express itself freely.
on the unimportant wood: in the insignificant task of splitting the log.
The blows......... unimportant: The life of self-control that the speaker has been leading, has given him additional strength. The speaker thinks that he should have made better use of his time by spending it in doing some deed of common good. That particular day, he deliberately decided to spend his time in pursuit of something that was not so serious as that of doing good to mankind. The words "giving a loose to my soul" and "unimportant wood" are significant in this context.
Stanza 3
The third, fourth and fifth stanzas refer to the vagaries of New England's seasonal climate. The main story is suspended and the poet illustrates the April's delicate equilibrium between warmth and cold—spring and winter. April signifies mud time—the time of transition from winter to spring when snow melts and there is slush and mud everywhere.
The balance of weather in April is so delicate that, if you dare to speak of it, it is disturbed. The third stanza shows how the weather changes quickly on the slightest pretext.
The sun was........... chill: The sun was warm because it was the beginning of spring. The wind was still chilly because the winter was just over.
the wind is still: the cold wind is not blowing.
You know how .... middle of May: April is a month of unpredictable weather. When the sun is shining and the wind is not blowing, it looks as if you are in May in the spring weather.
But if you .... to speak: If you speak of the weather as if it is spring in May as referred to in the lines above; then you are in for a surprise. A cloud suddenly covers the sky and wind blows from a cold mountain, then it seems that you are not in May but two months backward in winter in the middle of March.
the sunlit arch: the vaulted sky, bright and warm in the sunshine.
Stanza 4
alight: to come down from above.
fronts: stands in front of the wind.
unruffle a plume: not to disturb its feather.
so pitched: in a very moderated tune.
as yet: as of now. to bloom: to blossom.
A single flower............ bloom: not a
single flower bud has opened into a flower as yet.
snowing a flake: snowing in very small masses (flake) of snow.
half knew: almost knew.
playing possum: pretending to be dead; winter is not yet over, it might come back any moment.
he isn't blue: he is not gloomy or depressed; but he is just blue in colour.
advise: suggest.
a thing: anything.
he wouldn't........... blossom: he knows that at any time winter may return and then the blossoms will be destroyed by frost.
Stanza 5
witching-wand: a magic stick used to find out where the source of water is. If there is water underground, the magic stick is supposed to shake violently in the hands of the bearer standing on the surface of the earth.
wheelrut: furrow made by wheels. brook: a small stream.
print: depression made by the hoof of an animal.
hoof: the horny part of the feet of animals, like horses.
In every............. a pond: In summer there is scarcity of water; but now, as the winter is just receding, there is water in plenty on the ground; so much so, the furrow made by wheels look like a stream and the depression made by a hoof, looks like a pond.
lurking frost: the frost that is hidden, waiting suddenly to appear in the open. The lurking frost is like a wild beast hiding.
steal forth: move in secretly without being noticed.
Stanza 6
By coming......... to ask: what the tramps intended to ask is stated later in the poem.
The weight of a vernal heat: These lines describe the experiences involved in splitting the wood.
axe-head: The head of the axe with a heavy metal blade.
poised: held suspended in the air.
aloft: up in the air; upwards.
The grip......... feet: when you are splitting wood, you raise the axe and spread your feet. The feet have a firm grip on the ground.
The life......... smooth: Because of the energy used while splitting wood, the body muscles become tight and loose in usual intervals. When they are loose, they look soft and smooth.
rocking: move gently from side to side.
moist: slightly wet with perspiration.
vernal heat: slight heat of the spring season.
Stanza 7
The seventh stanza shifts the point of view from the interrupted poet to the lumber jack.
hulking: big and clumsy.
tramps: persons without regular work or settled home.
From sleeping....... last night: The tramps came after their sleep last night; but where they were sleeping only God knows.
lumber-camps: a camp where workers for felling of timber are put up.
But not long....... camps: but they were not sleeping for a long time, since they were put up in the lumber camps.
all chopping: all kinds of splitting of wood.
theirs of right: theirs by right. woods: a small forest.
lumberjack: one who is employed in the felling or sawing of timber.
They judged................. tool: Mark the subtle sense of ironical humour in these lines. It is not possible for "men of the woods and lumberjacks' to recognise and judge a civilized man rightly, they can judge a man only by means of their own tool-here: the axe.
Except as a ................ knowing a fool: Ironical humour continues in these two lines. The only way in which the two tramps could judge a person was in the way he could handle an axe.
Stanza 8
they had but to stay: they had only to prolong.
their stay: their act of standing there.
logic: way of reasoning.
As I had no................. for gain: Splitting the wood is for the poet no more than a hobby; but for the tramps it is their source of livelihood.
My right: The poet's right of having the hobby and splitting wood.
might be love: might be out of love for the hobby.
need: The tramps need the work of splitting wood for their livelihood.
in twain: together.
Stanza 9
vocation: trade or profession.
avocation: hobby in which one indulges for pleasure.
their separation: separation of work done for pleasure and work done for a living.
But yield................. to their separaion: The poet does not believe in the separation of vacation and avocation.
work in play: work is done for the sake of leisure.
love and need are one: When work undertaken to earn a livelihood is also the work undertaken as a hobby for enjoyment.
stakes: a race for prize money.
for mortal stakes: a race for prize money for winning the prizes of life like honour, wealth, power, etc.
For Heaven....... sakes: for God's sake and for the sake of future.
But yield who............ for Heaven and the future's sake: The concluding stanza of this poem is supposed to express what may be described as its central thought. "The underlying theme is a defense of the individual against the "gang security".
The poet knows we have no right to exercise a personal indulgence arrogantly when others are in dire need. When we unite our love and need in work, that is, play for mortal stakes then, the motive is pure and the act is justified. His relationship with his fellowman is one of sympathetic understanding.
The poet wonders that some may accept the division of work for love and work for need. The poet is of the view that pleasure and need must be combined in work. It is only then that a man can reach the highest degree of achievement. In other words like the two eyes give one sight in man so also the two aspects as indicated above gives unique achievement. A man has to unite his need for work as well as his love for work. He needs to undertake his task with joy for the benefit of human beings. It is only then that the task pleases God and is done for the betterment of humanity in future.
Notes
Stanza 1
Tramp: a person without a settled home or regular work.
Mud time: the time of transition from winter to spring when snow melts and there is slush and mud everywhere.
put me off my aim: diverted my attention
hailing cheerily: greeting heartily.
dropped behind: stayed behind.
go on a way: continue his journey.
He wanted............ for pay: The tramps 'wanted to split the wood for a payment.
Stanza 2
beech: wood of a beech tree.
around: from all sides.
chopping block: a block of wood on which meat or vegetable is cut into small pieces.
squarely: honestly.
fell splinterless: large pieces of wood fell without being broken into fragments.
cloven rock: neatly split rock.
blows: efforts, strength.
spares: reserves.
strike: spend.
giving a loose to my soul: allowing my soul to express itself freely.
on the unimportant wood: in the insignificant task of splitting the log.
The blows......... unimportant: The life of self-control that the speaker has been leading, has given him additional strength. The speaker thinks that he should have made better use of his time by spending it in doing some deed of common good. That particular day, he deliberately decided to spend his time in pursuit of something that was not so serious as that of doing good to mankind. The words "giving a loose to my soul" and "unimportant wood" are significant in this context.
Stanza 3
The third, fourth and fifth stanzas refer to the vagaries of New England's seasonal climate. The main story is suspended and the poet illustrates the April's delicate equilibrium between warmth and cold—spring and winter. April signifies mud time—the time of transition from winter to spring when snow melts and there is slush and mud everywhere.
The balance of weather in April is so delicate that, if you dare to speak of it, it is disturbed. The third stanza shows how the weather changes quickly on the slightest pretext.
The sun was........... chill: The sun was warm because it was the beginning of spring. The wind was still chilly because the winter was just over.
the wind is still: the cold wind is not blowing.
You know how .... middle of May: April is a month of unpredictable weather. When the sun is shining and the wind is not blowing, it looks as if you are in May in the spring weather.
But if you .... to speak: If you speak of the weather as if it is spring in May as referred to in the lines above; then you are in for a surprise. A cloud suddenly covers the sky and wind blows from a cold mountain, then it seems that you are not in May but two months backward in winter in the middle of March.
the sunlit arch: the vaulted sky, bright and warm in the sunshine.
Stanza 4
alight: to come down from above.
fronts: stands in front of the wind.
unruffle a plume: not to disturb its feather.
so pitched: in a very moderated tune.
as yet: as of now. to bloom: to blossom.
A single flower............ bloom: not a
single flower bud has opened into a flower as yet.
snowing a flake: snowing in very small masses (flake) of snow.
half knew: almost knew.
playing possum: pretending to be dead; winter is not yet over, it might come back any moment.
he isn't blue: he is not gloomy or depressed; but he is just blue in colour.
advise: suggest.
a thing: anything.
he wouldn't........... blossom: he knows that at any time winter may return and then the blossoms will be destroyed by frost.
Stanza 5
witching-wand: a magic stick used to find out where the source of water is. If there is water underground, the magic stick is supposed to shake violently in the hands of the bearer standing on the surface of the earth.
wheelrut: furrow made by wheels. brook: a small stream.
print: depression made by the hoof of an animal.
hoof: the horny part of the feet of animals, like horses.
In every............. a pond: In summer there is scarcity of water; but now, as the winter is just receding, there is water in plenty on the ground; so much so, the furrow made by wheels look like a stream and the depression made by a hoof, looks like a pond.
lurking frost: the frost that is hidden, waiting suddenly to appear in the open. The lurking frost is like a wild beast hiding.
steal forth: move in secretly without being noticed.
Stanza 6
By coming......... to ask: what the tramps intended to ask is stated later in the poem.
The weight of a vernal heat: These lines describe the experiences involved in splitting the wood.
axe-head: The head of the axe with a heavy metal blade.
poised: held suspended in the air.
aloft: up in the air; upwards.
The grip......... feet: when you are splitting wood, you raise the axe and spread your feet. The feet have a firm grip on the ground.
The life......... smooth: Because of the energy used while splitting wood, the body muscles become tight and loose in usual intervals. When they are loose, they look soft and smooth.
rocking: move gently from side to side.
moist: slightly wet with perspiration.
vernal heat: slight heat of the spring season.
Stanza 7
The seventh stanza shifts the point of view from the interrupted poet to the lumber jack.
hulking: big and clumsy.
tramps: persons without regular work or settled home.
From sleeping....... last night: The tramps came after their sleep last night; but where they were sleeping only God knows.
lumber-camps: a camp where workers for felling of timber are put up.
But not long....... camps: but they were not sleeping for a long time, since they were put up in the lumber camps.
all chopping: all kinds of splitting of wood.
theirs of right: theirs by right. woods: a small forest.
lumberjack: one who is employed in the felling or sawing of timber.
They judged................. tool: Mark the subtle sense of ironical humour in these lines. It is not possible for "men of the woods and lumberjacks' to recognise and judge a civilized man rightly, they can judge a man only by means of their own tool-here: the axe.
Except as a ................ knowing a fool: Ironical humour continues in these two lines. The only way in which the two tramps could judge a person was in the way he could handle an axe.
Stanza 8
they had but to stay: they had only to prolong.
their stay: their act of standing there.
logic: way of reasoning.
As I had no................. for gain: Splitting the wood is for the poet no more than a hobby; but for the tramps it is their source of livelihood.
My right: The poet's right of having the hobby and splitting wood.
might be love: might be out of love for the hobby.
need: The tramps need the work of splitting wood for their livelihood.
in twain: together.
Stanza 9
vocation: trade or profession.
avocation: hobby in which one indulges for pleasure.
their separation: separation of work done for pleasure and work done for a living.
But yield................. to their separaion: The poet does not believe in the separation of vacation and avocation.
work in play: work is done for the sake of leisure.
love and need are one: When work undertaken to earn a livelihood is also the work undertaken as a hobby for enjoyment.
stakes: a race for prize money.
for mortal stakes: a race for prize money for winning the prizes of life like honour, wealth, power, etc.
For Heaven....... sakes: for God's sake and for the sake of future.
But yield who............ for Heaven and the future's sake: The concluding stanza of this poem is supposed to express what may be described as its central thought. "The underlying theme is a defense of the individual against the "gang security".
The poet knows we have no right to exercise a personal indulgence arrogantly when others are in dire need. When we unite our love and need in work, that is, play for mortal stakes then, the motive is pure and the act is justified. His relationship with his fellowman is one of sympathetic understanding.
2 comments:
It was of immense help.. thank you ..nowhere this poem was explained so well ..!
Very simple and clear.Found it useful Thank you!
Post a Comment