American Literature

Birches and Into My Own
Robert Frost is one of the brightest poets of his generation as what can be proved by his several Pulitzer Prize recognitions for poetry (Robert Frost). As a child who grew up under the influence of Shakespeare and Wordsworths works, Frost grew up liking poetry and literature. At a very young age, Frost already liked reading and analyzing poems, and this became one of the strongest catalysts that moved him into pursuing poetry. Frost became renowned for his vivid and imaginative depictions of human despair. This has already been considered as a typical and consistent theme in most of Frosts works. In looking deep into the poets life, it may appear clear why he developed such kind of tendency to write sad poems. Frost went through some of the saddest and most painful experience any person can go through. At a very vulnerable age, Frost lost his father, his sister, and eventually as a man who just dreamt of a happy family, Frost also lost his two children as well as his wife (Robert Frost). These deaths brought the author into the darkest depths of sadness during some points in his life, and this kind of sadness and longing has been observable in most of his poems since then. Over the years, Frost has already produced a lot of works that seemed to center on this emotion, longing. Two notable poems that can be observed to employ the said theme are, Birches and Into my Own. This discussion shall then focus on explicating the significance of the theme of longing in these two works. The difference in terms of meaning shall also be analyzed by looking into how Frost used the said theme differently in the two poems. Furthermore, this discussion shall analyze the overall structure of these poems under the formalist perspective by scrutinizing the elements of form present in the aforementioned poems.

Birches
This poem is one of the most reviewed and analyzed poems by Robert Frost. Birches is a 60-line poem which mentions the authors views about life, childhood, happiness, desperation and other ambiguous symbols. The poem is a blank verse with several disparities on the customary iambic foot. As what can be observed, the poem follows no specific rhythm however, each line always has in itself a strong thought or word which makes each stanza emotionally implicative. A lot of critics and first-time readers of Frosts poems easily relates this poem to the joys of childhood. Although that specific claim appears acceptable, the poets life may reveal deeper meanings. As what has been mentioned in the introductory part of this discussion, the poet has gone through several painful experiences in his life. He grew up being used to seeing his loved ones die. At a very young age, Frost witnessed his father and sisters passing. And when he finally had his own family, his two children and his wife also left him. From this angle, it can be said that Frost might have been used to the feeling of desperation for long. However, it can nonetheless be assumed that there have been times in Frosts life that are more pleasant that these bitter experiences. Those times for example, during Frosts earlier childhood, when his father was still alive, must have given him joy. This can be the kind of happiness portrayed in this poem, Birches. The following lines can be observed to portray Frosts reminiscing of his happier childhood years

I should prefer to have some boy bend themAs he went out and in to fetch the cowsSome boy too far from town to learn baseball, Whose only play was what he found himself,Summer or winter, and could play alone.One by one he subdued his fathers treesBy riding them down over and over again Birches, Lines 23-29 (Lehman 224)

From these lines, Frosts memories of childhood innocence and fun become evident. Since this discussion draws on the theme of longing, Frosts childhood can be related to this kind of longing as the poets childhood must have been the object of longing pertained to this poem. Considering the painful experiences encountered by the author throughout his lifetime, it is easy to assume that the kind of longing he might have gone through is the yearning for the happier moments of his life. In the following excerpt, the poets longing for the happier moments of childhood can be clearly observed as he related such kind of pleasure to the sunshine in a winter morning, the breeze and the suns warmth
Often you must have seen them Loaded with ice a sunny winter morningAfter a rain. They click upon themselvesAs the breeze rises, and turn many-coloredAs the stir cracks and crazes their enamel.Soon the suns warmth makes them shed crystal shells Shattering and avalanching on the snow crustSuch heaps of broken glass to sweep away  Lines 5-12 (223)

Obviously, the poet was pertaining to this part of his life as the more pleasant one as compared to the more recent part of his life which was already filled with grief due to the loss of his loved ones. Furthermore, Frosts depiction of the trees movement also entails some meaningful thoughts about his childhood. The poets way of describing the movements of the trees seems like he was pertaining to the easiness and uncomplicatedness of childhood life where lifes momentum goes as easy as a branchs up and down motion (Lentricchia) as what is expressed in this part of the poem
When I see birches bend to left and rightAcross the lines of straighter darker trees,I like to think some boys been swinging them.But swinging doesnt bend them down to stay Lines 1-4 (223)
 However, sadness still rises from the poets words as he seems to admit that such kind of peace and calm does not really stay for long.

Into my Own
On the other hand, Into my Own is Frosts succinct depiction of a child who has decided to break free from all the things that constrain him from his desires. This poem consists of 14 short lines that follow a rhyme scheme of AABBCCDDEEFFGG. Unlike the poem first discussed, rhyme and consistent rhythm are very much observable in this poem.  But just like the first one, this poem also tackles an equally emotional theme which roots from a childs wanting to break free from home.
I should not be withheld but that somedayinto their vastness I should steal away,Fearless of ever finding open land,or highway where the slow wheel pours the sand.  Into my Own, Lines 4-8 (Frost 11)

From these lines, a familiar desire of breaking free from something confining is being introduced by the poet. In relation to the theme of longing discussed in the previous poem, it can be observed that the act of longing in this poem both comes from the boy (the subject) and the people around him. If in the first poem the longing was centered on the poets desire to go back to the happier moments of his childhood, in this poem, it appears that the poet  who also portrayed himself as a child  focuses on his wanting to experience freedom for the first time as a youth. This kind of wanting has always been a common subject about youth. In the succeeding lines from this work, the presence of this kind of longing can be clearly observed

I do not see why I should eer turn back,Or those should not set forth upon my trackTo overtake me, who should miss me hereAnd long to know if still I held them dear. Lines 9-12 (11)
However, aside from the poets longing to achieve some sense of freedom, these lines also portray a longing from the boys loved ones and this kind of longing centers on their wanting to make the child stay. However, as the poet notes, his longing for freedom is not supposed to change him negatively, instead Frost notes, They would not find me changed from him they knew-- Only more sure of all I thought was true (11).

In both poems, it is incontestable that Frosts innate poetic abilities were employed. However, apart from this reality, it can be observed that the theme of longing became very implicative in the poets objective to displace as much emotions he can to affect the readers. The usage of this theme also says a lot about the authors strength in overcoming his personal despairs. The depiction of such theme also effectively sends off the authors perspective on the reality of losing someone or something important. It is quite clear that the poet wants the readers to look at longing as a learning experience, where they can teach themselves how to be patient and persevering. Furthermore, it is evident that the author points out that this kind of emotion is indeed universal, and that a lot of things in this world can really make people long and desire. Both poems displayed Frosts undeniable poetic talent. But more importantly, this discussion was able to prove that Frost is indeed a master when it comes to the depiction of the deepest of human emotions as what can be observed in his use of the emotional theme of longing in these two works.