The poem explores the tension between nature and human endeavor, as a mower struggles to tame a lawn that seems determined to resist his efforts. The speaker's voice is detached, observing the scene with a sense of irony and resignation. The poem raises questions about the futility of trying to control or dominate nature, and the ways in which it can be both beautiful and destructive.
By Robert Frost · First published 1914 · Genre: Poetry, Pastoral, Symbolism