Good-Bye and Keep Cold
The poem explores themes of care, separation, and the natural cycle of life through the lens of an orchard. The speaker expresses a deep concern for a young orchard, emphasizing the potential threats it faces from wildlife and environmental conditions. The imagery of the orchard, isolated by a hill and vulnerable to various dangers, symbolizes innocence and the fragility of growth. The speaker's farewell is tinged with anxiety, as they wish to protect the orchard from being harmed by animals like rabbits, deer, and grouse. They express a desire to ward off these threats, reflecting a sense of responsibility and stewardship. The mention of the orchard's location on a northerly slope suggests a strategic choice to shield it from excessive warmth, highlighting the importance of maintaining the right conditions for growth. The repeated admonition to "keep cold" serves as a metaphor for preserving the orchard's vitality and innocence. The speaker acknowledges the harshness of winter but believes that it is preferable to the dangers of warmth, which could lead to premature growth or decay. This duality of cold and warmth symbolizes the balance between protection and the inevitability of change. As the speaker prepares to leave for a season, they reflect on their obligations to other trees, which are less nurtured and more utilitarian. This shift in focus underscores the tension between personal responsibility and the acceptance of nature's unpredictability. The speaker's wish to think of the orchard at night reveals a deep emotional connection, yet they recognize that some aspects of care must be relinquished to fate. Ultimately, the poem conveys a poignant message about the limits of human control over nature. The speaker's farewell encapsulates a blend of hope and resignation, acknowledging that while they can take measures to protect the orchard, the outcome is ultimately beyond their influence. The closing lines emphasize a surrender to the natural order, suggesting that some things must be entrusted to a higher power. The work encapsulates the complexities of nurturing, the inevitability of change, and the acceptance of life's uncertainties.
By Robert Frost · First published 1942 · Genre: Poetry, Nature Writing, Lyric · 339 words
First lines
This saying good-bye on the edge of the dark And cold to an orchard so young in the bark Reminds me of all that can happen to harm An orchard away at the end of the farm All winter, cut off by a hill from the house.
I don't want it girdled by rabbit and mouse, I don't want it dreamily nibbled for browse By deer, and I don't want it budded by grouse.
What this Textopian page supports
Good-Bye and Keep Cold is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Frost, dated 1942 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: 1942 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature Writing, Lyric, Pastoral, Philosophical
- Length: 339 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Similar titles
- Abandoned by Madison Cawein
- In Neglect by Robert Frost
- Some Too Fragile For Winter Winds by Emily Dickinson
- To Earthward by Robert Frost
- Drouth In Autumn by Madison Cawein
- Old Man by Edward Thomas
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Nature Writing — The poem reflects on the relationship between humans and nature, particularly focusing on the care of an orchard.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts regarding the orchard and the speaker's departure.
- Pastoral — The themes revolve around rural life and the beauty of nature, typical of pastoral literature.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Winter · Farewell · Coldness · Isolation · Loneliness · Melancholy · Sorrow · Loss · Separation · Disconnection