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Tuesday, 7 January 2025

Stopping By Woods

 May be an image of tree

pic courtesy of Abbe Gordziejko 

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   
But I have promises to keep,  
And miles to go before I sleep."  

This is the entrance to Billy Wood in Norwood Green, and, even though it's not quite dark yet, on a snowy day like today it evokes Robert Frost's famous and beloved poem 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.' Click here to read the full poem.

There are various interpretations of the poem (click here for one). I just love it at the simplest level, for its evocative images and its wonderful rhyming scheme.

The narrator of the poem is attracted by the woods, but they can be a places of mystery and maybe even danger. Think of 'Little Red Riding Hood' and 'Hansel and Gretel'. Let your imagination run riot for a while.

Writing prompts:

  • Imagine you are standing at the entrance to these woods at dusk. Write about what you are thinking and what you do next.

  • Have you got 'promises to keep'? If so, what are they and will you keep them? Explore the answers to these questions in your writing. 

  • Like the narrator, you have 'miles to go' before you sleep. Write about your journey and your destination.

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