Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Frost's poem "To E.T." is an elegy dedicated to Edward Thomas, a close friend and fellow poet who died during World War I. Through a personal and poignant reflection, Frost explores themes of friendship, loss, and the unfulfilled promise of communication between two kindred spirits. The poem delves into the deep emotional impact of Thomas's death on Frost and the lingering sense of unfinished business and unspoken words between them.

The poem opens with an intimate image of Frost falling asleep with Thomas's poems: "I slumbered with your poems on my breast / Spread open as I dropped them half read through." This scene conveys a deep connection between the two poets, with Frost seeking solace and closeness through Thomas's words. The metaphor of the poems being like "dove wings on a figure on a tomb" suggests both peace and mourning, as well as the hope that the poems might bridge the gap between life and death.

Frost expresses a longing for a missed opportunity: "To see, if, in a dream they brought of you, / I might not have the chance I missed in life / Through some delay, and call you to your face." He regrets not having had the chance to speak with Thomas in person, to address him directly as both a soldier and a poet: "First soldier, and then poet, and then both, / Who died a soldier-poet of your race." This acknowledgment of Thomas's dual identity as a soldier and a poet underscores the tragedy of his untimely death and the profound impact it had on Frost.

The poem reflects on the unspoken words between them: "I meant, you meant, that nothing should remain / Unsaid between us, brother, and this remained." Despite their close bond, there were still things left unsaid, an unfinished conversation that Frost deeply feels. He also touches on the broader implications of Thomas's death in the context of the war: "The Victory for what it lost and gained." This line suggests a bittersweet recognition of the sacrifices made and the mixed outcomes of the conflict.

Frost poignantly describes Thomas's death at Vimy Ridge: "You went to meet the shell's embrace of fire / On Vimy Ridge; and when you fell that day / The war seemed over more for you than me, / But now for me than you -- the other way." Here, Frost reflects on how Thomas's death felt like the end of the war for him personally, a loss that overshadowed the larger events. The reversal in the final lines emphasizes how the passage of time has shifted his perspective, making the war seem more over for him now than it might have felt for Thomas in the immediate aftermath of his death.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the enduring sense of loss and the unfinished dialogue: "How over, though, for even me who knew / The foe thrust back unsafe beyond the Rhine, / If I was not to speak of it to you / And see you pleased once more with words of mine?" Frost laments that even with the war's end, the absence of Thomas and the inability to share his thoughts with him leave a lingering sense of incompletion. The desire to see Thomas "pleased once more with words of mine" underscores the profound impact of their friendship and the deep respect Frost had for Thomas's appreciation of his poetry.

"To E.T." by Robert Frost is a moving elegy that captures the depth of friendship and the enduring pain of loss. Through vivid imagery and heartfelt reflection, Frost conveys the profound impact of Edward Thomas's death on his own life and work, highlighting the unspoken words and unfinished conversations that continue to resonate. The poem serves as a tribute to Thomas's memory and a testament to the lasting bond between two poet-soldiers.

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