Something like a star
Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash
Choose Something Like a Star
by Robert Frost
O Star (the fairest one in sight),
We grant your loftiness the right
To some obscurity of cloud—
It will not do to say of night,
Since dark is what brings out your light.
Some mystery becomes the proud.
But to be wholly taciturn
In your reserve is not allowed.
Say something to us we can learn
By heart and when alone repeat.
Say something! And it says, ‘I burn.’
But say with what degree of heat.
Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade.
Use language we can comprehend.
Tell us what elements you blend.
It gives us strangely little aid,
But does tell something in the end.
And steadfast as Keats’ Eremite,
Not even stooping from its sphere,
It asks a little of us here.
It asks of us a certain height,
So when at times the mob is swayed
To carry praise or blame too far,
We may choose something like a star
To stay our minds on and be staid.
For some reason, there was no post for January 5th or January 12th seven years ago. Apparently I wasn’t yet into a regular twice-weekly schedule of posting. Be that as it may, I just now uploaded my 500-word analysis of this, one of my favorite Frost poems, to my school website. And remembering that there would normally have been a post on Fridays, I decided to share it with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I’ve loved it for many years now.
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Defeat Despair 
Beautiful photo. Lovely poem.
Thank you, Amy. Robert Frost is great, isn’t he?
Good morning, Julia! I love this. Thanks for the new post – Something like a Star.
We would all do well to consider a star and our relative impermanence in the face of our over-inflated opinions on so many matters.
Thanks again for this gentle reminder.
Love to you!
Susan, I couldn’t agree more. Glad you like the poem!
Good morning Julia! So good to read your reply to my Thanksgiving post. WordPress is blocking my reply though
I got it, Sheila! WordPress is getting crankier all the time. They keep fixing what wasn’t broken. If it wasn’t so hard to post now, I might do it more often. But I’m glad this comment got through! 🙂 The kettle is on here at the Virtual Verandah and I’m drinking Ahmad Tea’s Cardamom blend. What’s your choice today? Shall I pop some mini-quiche pastries into the oven? ❤
Thank you, for sharing your love of this poem… IN college , I learned Robert Frost was called the Dark poet. No wonder…as he dealt with so much tragedy in his life…just like JOB, from the Bible. One day, I hope to meet Mr. Frost..and to tell him…in the midst of all the tragedy around me.. around all of us… I went to a quiet place like Jesus had done, whom I have read and learned so much from… TO go your quiet place..retreat from the whirring of hate…justification…and just to reflect to find your inner peace in this dying old 🌎. AND LOOK TO THAT ONE STAR, AND BE STAID. THANK YOU.
Thank you, Angelina, and welcome to my little corner of the world. Though I’ve been reading Frost for decades, I had never heard him called “the Dark poet” but I do think the name fits. And I too hope to meet him someday! In my current studies in creative writing at Oxford, where I am writing quite a bit of poetry myself, our tutor shared a lengthy essay composed of Frost’s his words of wisdom about writing poetry, and it was such a helpful guide. Frost’s legacy is singular and enduring. I’m so happy you love this poem as much as I do. My late sister and best friend (who died unexpectedly last year and for whom I still grieve deeply) also loved this poem, and lived its message of staying apart from the world’s madness. Thanks again for your lovely comment.