Age saw two quiet children
Go loving by at twilight,
He knew not whether homeward,
Or outward from the village,
Or (chimes were ringing) churchward,
He waited, (they were strangers)
Till they were out of hearing
To bid them both be happy.
"Be happy, happy, happy,
And seize the day of pleasure."
The age-long theme is Age's.
'Twas Age imposed on poems
Their gather-roses burden
To warn against the danger
That overtaken lovers
From being overflooded
With happiness should have it.
And yet not know they have it.
But bid life seize the present?
It lives less in the present
Than in the future always,
And less in both together
Than in the past. The present
Is too much for the senses,
Too crowding, too confusing-
Too present to imagine.
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My favorite Carpe Diem poem, and perhaps my favorite poem by Frost. That desperate line "be happy, happy, happy"
From guest Laurie (contact)
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This poem at first seemed a bit confusing to me. but as i think on it, i find it makes more sense. however bustling and busy the present is. it is the present, and if you are to focused on the future, eventually there will be no past for you didnt take it in while it was the present. happiness is in the present, only a residue is left behind as time fades away.
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From guest Siri L. (contact)
In response to last comment- I think it's more about how we think too much about our future, regret too much of our past, and therefore the present is too much to think about so we might as well just live it instead of always analyzing it...hense Carpe Diem. -
From guest Sarah M. (contact)
this poem is very contradicting. frost begins by saying carpe diem to the newlywed couple, but then contradicts the thought of carpe diem. he changes his thoughts that its not possible to actually 'seize the moment' because it keeps turnign into the past. therefore he comes to conclude that living in the present is to complicated,confusing,and almost impossible and you almost need to live in the futor. so looking back on the beginning, frost is almost mocking father time. well atleast thats just my thoughts -
Wool-gathering..
I like this quite a lot. It has the sound and feel of a well worn sweater. It is the priviledge of "Age" to ponder the past, there is more for the aged to ponder there than for the young. Age sees the present as too pressing upon each moment at a time when he is tired and wants to be still and enjoy his ponderings. Just a lovely poem of an old man remembering with a touch of envy perhaps, his lost years of youth and sensing so close the 'future' he seems to prefer NOT to imagine. -
on seeing a loving young couple... the poet's heart wishes that they dont outgrow out of their love and happiness... to value and realize it each day and live in the present moment...
as usually people have the tendency to dwell in the past and sometimes... give much thought to plans and dreams of future... and miss the essence of life at the present moment ...
and he reasons ... perhaps it happens because of too much reality and practicality crowding the present.
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how would you interpret this?
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I agree with Frost's assessment about the present, often. But sometimes we're lucky enough to recognize it as it's happening.
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