Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE FLOOD by ROBERT FROST

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: BLOOD HAS BEEN HARDER TO DAM BACK THAN WATER
Last Line: Oh, blood will out. It cannot be contained
Subject(s): BLOOD;
Blood has been harder to dam back than water.
Just when we think we have it impounded safe
Behind new barrier walls (and let it chafe!),
It breaks away in some new kind of slaughter.
We choose to say it is let loose by the devil;
But power of blood itself releases blood.
It goes by might of being such a flood
Held high at so unnatural a level.
It will have outlet, brave and not so brave.
weapons of war and implements of peace
Are but the points at which it finds release.
And now it is once more the tidal wave
That when it has swept by leaves summits stained.
Oh, blood will out. It cannot be contained.



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