Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
New Hampshire: A Poem with Notes and Grace Notes (1923) | Robert Frost (1874–1963)
Suggestions
Have your students do one or more of the following:
- Can you envision the scene? Draw it.
- Why do you think the narrator stopped?
- Try writing your own version of the poem but make it a warm summer day instead of a snowy night. Begin with replacing words in the first stanza to reflect the new setting.
- Copy the poem into your notebook underneath your illustrated scene.
- Read another poem by Robert Frost:
Additional Activities
10 Activities: Winter Nature Study
Things to do in the snow.
