Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Frost's narrative poem "The Witch of Coös" tells a ghostly tale set in rural New England, blending elements of supernatural folklore with the stark realities of human relationships and violence. Through the recounting of an eerie incident by a mother and her son, Frost explores themes of guilt, secrecy, and the haunting presence of the past.

The poem opens with the speaker, seeking shelter for the night, arriving at a farm behind the mountain, where he encounters a mother and her son. The initial interaction sets the tone for the unfolding story, emphasizing their isolation and old-fashioned beliefs: "I stayed the night for shelter at a farm / Behind the mountain, with a mother and son, / Two old-believers. They did all the talking."

The mother begins by addressing common misconceptions about witches: "Folks think a witch who has familiar spirits / She could call up to pass a winter evening, / But won't, should be burned at the stake or something." This casual dismissal of witchcraft's more sensational aspects immediately contrasts with the macabre tale she is about to tell.

The son interjects, hinting at his mother's supernatural abilities: "Mother can make a common table rear / And kick with two legs like an army mule." However, the mother downplays her abilities, suggesting they are ultimately futile: "And when I've done it, what good have I done?" Instead, she begins to share a more disturbing account involving a skeleton in their attic.

The son reveals the presence of the bones: "Bones -- a skeleton," and describes the eerie details of their encounter. The mother recalls the night the skeleton ascended from the cellar, moving through the house in a manner both methodical and surreal: "The night the bones came up the cellar-stairs / Toffile had gone to bed alone and left me, / But left an open door to cool the room off." The skeleton's journey through the house is described with vivid imagery, emphasizing the surreal and unsettling nature of the event.

The narrative reaches a climax as the mother recounts her confrontation with the skeleton: "So suddenly I flung the door wide on him. / A moment he stood balancing with emotion, / And all but lost himself." Her fear and fascination culminate in a violent clash, where she strikes the skeleton's outstretched hand, causing it to disintegrate into pieces.

The poem delves deeper into the family's dark history as the mother reveals the truth about the bones: "They were a man's his father killed for me. / I mean a man he killed instead of me." This confession of murder and complicity adds a layer of human horror to the supernatural tale, exposing the violence and guilt that haunt the family.

The mother's final reflections underscore the enduring presence of the past: "When they sometimes / Come down the stairs at night and stand perplexed / Behind the door and headboard of the bed, / Brushing their chalky skull with chalky fingers, / With sounds like the dry rattling of a shutter." Her resolve to let the bones remain in the attic, along with her promise to be "cruel to them / For helping them be cruel once to him," highlights the complexity of her emotions and the weight of her past actions.

In "The Witch of Coös," Robert Frost masterfully intertwines elements of the supernatural with the grim realities of human life. The poem explores how past deeds and unresolved guilt continue to haunt individuals, blurring the line between folklore and personal history. Through the vivid recounting of a ghostly encounter, Frost invites readers to reflect on the enduring impact of secrets and the ways in which the past shapes the present.

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