Going for Water by Robert Frost
The poem explores the tension between two opposing desires: the desire to return home and the desire for freedom and adventure. The speaker is drawn to a distant mountain, but feels an obligation to return to their family's farm. This internal conflict reflects the universal human struggle between stability and restlessness.
By Robert Frost · First published 1949 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Pastoral · 246 words
First lines
The well was dry beside the door, And so we went with pail and can Across the fields behind the house To seek the brook if still it ran; Not loth to have excuse to go, Because the autumn eve was fair (Though chill), because the fields were ours, And by the brook our woods were there.
We ran as if to meet the moon That slowly dawned behind the trees, The barren boughs without the leaves, Without the birds, without the breeze.
But once within the wood, we paused Like gnomes that hid us from the moon, Ready to run to hiding new With laughter when she found us soon.
What this Textopian page supports
Going for Water is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Frost, dated 1949 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Frost
- Date: 1949 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature, Pastoral, Romantic, Symbolism
- Length: 246 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm, meter, and imagery, characteristic of poetry.
- Nature — The poem centers around natural elements such as the brook, fields, and woods, highlighting the beauty and tranquility of nature.
- Pastoral — The setting in rural fields and woods, along with the depiction of a simple, rustic life, aligns with pastoral themes.
- Romantic — The emphasis on emotion, nature, and the beauty of the autumn evening reflects Romantic literary themes.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Water · Symbolism · Metaphor · Imagery · Literary Device · Figurative Language · Rhetoric · Tone · Mood · Atmosphere