What do you think?
Rate this book
Mending Wall
First published in 1914, "Mending Wall" is a metaphorical poem written in blank verse, by Robert Frost (1874–1963). The poem appeared as the first selection in Frost's second collection of poetry, North of Boston. In this poem, the poet asks why he and his neighbor must rebuild the stone wall dividing their farms each spring.
Other poems in this collection include Death of a Hired Hand, Home Burial, and The Black Cottage.
Other poems in this collection include Death of a Hired Hand, Home Burial, and The Black Cottage.
poetry
First published January 1, 2008
5 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
About the author
Robert Frost
1,038 books5,044 followersFlinty, moody, plainspoken and deep, Robert Frost was one of America's most popular 20th-century poets. Frost was farming in Derry, New Hampshire when, at the age of 38, he sold the farm, uprooted his family and moved to England, where he devoted himself to his poetry. His first two books of verse, A Boy's Will (1913) and North of Boston (1914), were immediate successes. In 1915 he returned to the United States and continued to write while living in New Hampshire and then Vermont. His pastoral images of apple trees and stone fences -- along with his solitary, man-of-few-words poetic voice -- helped define the modern image of rural New England. Frost's poems include "Mending Wall" ("Good fences make good neighbors"), "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" ("Whose woods these are I think I know"), and perhaps his most famous work, "The Road Not Taken" ("Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- / I took the one less traveled by"). Frost was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry four times: in 1924, 1931, 1937 and 1943. He also served as "Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress" from 1958-59; that position was renamed as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry (or simply Poet Laureate) in 1986.
Frost recited his poem "The Gift Outright" at the 1961 inauguration of John F. Kennedy... Frost attended both Dartmouth College and Harvard, but did not graduate from either school... Frost preferred traditional rhyme and meter in poetry; his famous dismissal of free verse was, "I'd just as soon play tennis with the net down."
Frost recited his poem "The Gift Outright" at the 1961 inauguration of John F. Kennedy... Frost attended both Dartmouth College and Harvard, but did not graduate from either school... Frost preferred traditional rhyme and meter in poetry; his famous dismissal of free verse was, "I'd just as soon play tennis with the net down."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 1, 2018
Read by Leonard Nimoy - an Art Evans production (YouTube) - how hauntingly pertinent this poem is right now.
April 27, 2016
Frost presents that crusty persona, but he was a world class thinker. He packs a poem with lots of wallops, so it is different than racking up another novel - it's more like finding a puzzle that is difficult to even open but then presents only another more difficult puzzle and then another until one exhausts her or his analytical powers.
December 27, 2014
This poem is so instructional, thought provoking and settling in a world where everything of importance is being torn down continually.
July 6, 2024
It is accurately said that all grand literature concerns human affiliation. The same can be said about this poem. According to the grapevine, it is a poem which depicts construction doings of two neighbours who have met to restore the wall between their respective farms. We read about their impenetrability in setting the fallen boulders with their untrained hands. We hear about the speaker's thoughts about the need of keeping the wall between them. We also learn how the two neighbours do not match eyeballs on the subject of maintaining the wall. Frost illustrates all this, in an exciting account cloaked in a drama. It offers the reader the expected enchantment, but the unexpected recompense lies in astuteness imparted by the poem in conclusion.
The poem does analyse the pros and cons of the question whether people need to build or demolish walls between themselves. It is essentially a question of human relationship. The poet describes a dramatic situation which makes us think over the issue whether man should tear down the barriers which isolate individuals - from one another, or he should recognise and respect these limits because they a~ practically useful.
As for the question of co-existence, we need the rules of the game. Each individual should have his space which no intruder should violate. This alone can ensure peaceful co-existence. It is thus necessary to prescribe dearly visible limits, so that one does not run into the other. It is a rule of harmonious human relationship. We may curiously examine if nature favours a wall.
The speaker in the poem believes that nature revolts against wall. It makes the stones fall as the earth below freezes and the stones above are heated by the sun. Nature conspires to demolish what men build and maintain. That mysterious force makes gap in the farm wall. The young speaker reflects if the wall is useful or futile. According to him, it is not needed for any practical purpose. His apple orchard is divided by his neighbour's pine tree.
There is no clash of interest. There are no intruders. There are no cows to stray into' the fields of one or the other. What do they want to wall in and wall out? This is the young man's doubt. His argument sounds convincing. The neighbour relies on traditional wisdom when he says that good fences make good neighbours. He sees a moral principle behind mending and maintaining walls. If the wall separates the neighbours, that separation is the best means for them to get on well with each other. They have to keep their distance in order to be good neighbours. That would minimise the risk of disputes regarding the ownership of respective territories.
The young man remains unconvinced. He wonders if his neighbour is a primitive man of the Stone Age. "He will not go behind his father's saying". So he sticks to his views. He repeats his words. Thus, the old man has very little to say. However, his words have wisdom of an old proverb. Harmonious relationship between neighbours is possible only if they mutually recognise each other's right to his dedicated space and privacy.
After having said everything, the poem ends in wisdom. This can be found in the way the young man co-operates with his neighbour to restore the wall by replacing the fallen boulders on his side. This means that the golden principle in human relationship is that we must understand and appreciate other's point of view. We should -be willing to compromise in a mood of accommodation. The young man represents the poet's point of view when he admits the attempts of nature to destabilise the wall, who questions the credence of the neighbour, yet goes with the flow. He joins his neighbour to renovate the wall, and agrees to remain on his side of the wall.
Frost often said: "A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom." No better example than this one.
I like to add a part of an article recently read at the end of my review:
Given the negative stereotyping of the caricature enslaved by his father’s saying and the unmistakably Frostian voice of the narrator, surely Frost meant to imply that any fool reader ought to see that “Mending Wall” is against isolation and distrust and in favor of love and community. The tonguein-cheek guilelessness of Frost’s comment is ingenuous in a way he never intended. “Mending Wall” does play fair: neither of its characters is admirable, but the wall-loving “savage” is at least honest about his beliefs. “Mending Wall” is no “My Last Duchess,” however. Frost’s hypocritical narrator lacks the constant wrongheadedness needed to indicate that the poem was meant to be a sardonic self-revelation of his true character. Neither has Frost provided Browning’s sardonic signals that the author duly notes and condemns of his speaker’s air of superiority. Yet “Mending Wall” is an ironic self-revelation of character. At least as far as fences go, it exposes Frost’s cold mind posing as a warm heart.
The poem does analyse the pros and cons of the question whether people need to build or demolish walls between themselves. It is essentially a question of human relationship. The poet describes a dramatic situation which makes us think over the issue whether man should tear down the barriers which isolate individuals - from one another, or he should recognise and respect these limits because they a~ practically useful.
As for the question of co-existence, we need the rules of the game. Each individual should have his space which no intruder should violate. This alone can ensure peaceful co-existence. It is thus necessary to prescribe dearly visible limits, so that one does not run into the other. It is a rule of harmonious human relationship. We may curiously examine if nature favours a wall.
The speaker in the poem believes that nature revolts against wall. It makes the stones fall as the earth below freezes and the stones above are heated by the sun. Nature conspires to demolish what men build and maintain. That mysterious force makes gap in the farm wall. The young speaker reflects if the wall is useful or futile. According to him, it is not needed for any practical purpose. His apple orchard is divided by his neighbour's pine tree.
There is no clash of interest. There are no intruders. There are no cows to stray into' the fields of one or the other. What do they want to wall in and wall out? This is the young man's doubt. His argument sounds convincing. The neighbour relies on traditional wisdom when he says that good fences make good neighbours. He sees a moral principle behind mending and maintaining walls. If the wall separates the neighbours, that separation is the best means for them to get on well with each other. They have to keep their distance in order to be good neighbours. That would minimise the risk of disputes regarding the ownership of respective territories.
The young man remains unconvinced. He wonders if his neighbour is a primitive man of the Stone Age. "He will not go behind his father's saying". So he sticks to his views. He repeats his words. Thus, the old man has very little to say. However, his words have wisdom of an old proverb. Harmonious relationship between neighbours is possible only if they mutually recognise each other's right to his dedicated space and privacy.
After having said everything, the poem ends in wisdom. This can be found in the way the young man co-operates with his neighbour to restore the wall by replacing the fallen boulders on his side. This means that the golden principle in human relationship is that we must understand and appreciate other's point of view. We should -be willing to compromise in a mood of accommodation. The young man represents the poet's point of view when he admits the attempts of nature to destabilise the wall, who questions the credence of the neighbour, yet goes with the flow. He joins his neighbour to renovate the wall, and agrees to remain on his side of the wall.
Frost often said: "A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom." No better example than this one.
I like to add a part of an article recently read at the end of my review:
Given the negative stereotyping of the caricature enslaved by his father’s saying and the unmistakably Frostian voice of the narrator, surely Frost meant to imply that any fool reader ought to see that “Mending Wall” is against isolation and distrust and in favor of love and community. The tonguein-cheek guilelessness of Frost’s comment is ingenuous in a way he never intended. “Mending Wall” does play fair: neither of its characters is admirable, but the wall-loving “savage” is at least honest about his beliefs. “Mending Wall” is no “My Last Duchess,” however. Frost’s hypocritical narrator lacks the constant wrongheadedness needed to indicate that the poem was meant to be a sardonic self-revelation of his true character. Neither has Frost provided Browning’s sardonic signals that the author duly notes and condemns of his speaker’s air of superiority. Yet “Mending Wall” is an ironic self-revelation of character. At least as far as fences go, it exposes Frost’s cold mind posing as a warm heart.
September 13, 2016
Re-read 2016
November 15, 2023
i ship them
February 19, 2018
It is a poem telling the story of two men who meet to repair the wall dividing their property. Narrator begins to question the purpose of the wall unlike his neighbour who is presented as old-fashioned and savage. It is really a good poem overall. One can find the themes like nature and man, tradition and communication. We all set a wall not to reach or not be reached by others but do we question it like Frost?
February 28, 2018
"Something there is that doesn't love a wall,...
there where it is we do not need the wall"
there where it is we do not need the wall"
October 29, 2025
All about walls. And who doesn't love a wall? And what about walls with holes? What are we keeping out? Or are we trying to keep something in? Physical walls and metaphorical walls abound. A poem for the elves.
July 8, 2022
The wall has gaps.
December 16, 2020
This one didn't do much for me. Might be a personal issue, but it's true.🙃
May 1, 2009
my interpretation of this poem is about the natural barriers we put up to shut people out...i think it questions certain aspects of human relationships (avoiding those with differences) and what we would do or say had those "wall"s we created inadvertently in our mind & hearts not existed. one of my favorites, memorized it in the 9th grade and can still recite it :D
August 28, 2020
When I was a teenager I thought this was pretty insightful. Now, in my thirties, having my neighbours talk to me is pretty much the worst thing that happens to me on a regular basis.
February 19, 2022
I do not normally write reviews of what I read on this site because I never feel like I have the time. However, I feel like I have the time now. I recently began PBS' series on poetry where this poem is featured. Before I could continue with the 25-minute episode on our Robert Frost, I knew I had to pause and come back to read this poem.
Frost is such a tricky writer. You think you are going to find this agrarian New England poetry. He does use that landscape, of course, but it always means more than you would think. There is a sort of mysticism to the landscape in this poem, where nature has power over this wall; and humans have to come back time and time again to push back against nature's influence. This lovely, gentile world that many think Frost reflects (and only ever reflects) has power that comes against mankind - such a power that you walk away from this poem wondering where your walls are. Where are your unnecessary walls that you have to come back time and time again to rebuild? Why do you need to rebuild them, and why do they lack permanence? What is nature, or the natural order of things, trying to tell you?
Frost is such a tricky writer. You think you are going to find this agrarian New England poetry. He does use that landscape, of course, but it always means more than you would think. There is a sort of mysticism to the landscape in this poem, where nature has power over this wall; and humans have to come back time and time again to push back against nature's influence. This lovely, gentile world that many think Frost reflects (and only ever reflects) has power that comes against mankind - such a power that you walk away from this poem wondering where your walls are. Where are your unnecessary walls that you have to come back time and time again to rebuild? Why do you need to rebuild them, and why do they lack permanence? What is nature, or the natural order of things, trying to tell you?
June 1, 2024
FULL REVIEW ON MY WEBSITE
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
I like the premise of this poem which is to show us the reader how a fences can create good neighbours. But it also shows us how people can sort of can preserve their long-lasting relations with neighbours by founding such walls. But i feel like this topic is over used now on days.
In this poem Robert Frost gives us a crusty persona in this poem. And for the most part this poem is full of wallops.
The whole story in this poem is about 2 men who meet to repair the wall dividing their property. It was good but at times it felt provoking and settling at the same time.
The narrator in this poem question the purpose of the fence between the neighbours.
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
I like the premise of this poem which is to show us the reader how a fences can create good neighbours. But it also shows us how people can sort of can preserve their long-lasting relations with neighbours by founding such walls. But i feel like this topic is over used now on days.
In this poem Robert Frost gives us a crusty persona in this poem. And for the most part this poem is full of wallops.
The whole story in this poem is about 2 men who meet to repair the wall dividing their property. It was good but at times it felt provoking and settling at the same time.
The narrator in this poem question the purpose of the fence between the neighbours.
March 31, 2019
American Literature II is a class that I am currently taking. During this class we are required to read novels, poems, and short stories that we might not have ever read otherwise. Some are good and some are bad; however, all are legendary and useful for the overall growth of literature everywhere.
November 8, 2022
'The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.'
'He is all pine and I am apple orchard.'
'I could say ‘Elves’ to him,
But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather
He said it for himself.'
'He moves in darkness as it seems to me,
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.'
love this so muchhhhhhh
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.'
'He is all pine and I am apple orchard.'
'I could say ‘Elves’ to him,
But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather
He said it for himself.'
'He moves in darkness as it seems to me,
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.'
love this so muchhhhhhh
June 10, 2020
A short poem about neighbours repairing a wall between their properties and the narrator questions the purpose and validity of the wall. "What was I walling in or walling out?" Discusses our use of boundaries, both literally and figuratively.
February 25, 2019
A quick follow-up poem to ponder after a long read of the border battles between Mexico and the US.
December 12, 2020
This one was actually quite nice. Again, I read this for writing class, but I enjoyed the message that it was going for.
August 16, 2022
“He moves in darkness as it seems to me” Scarryyyyyyy
October 8, 2022
Arguably the greatest allegory to Human relationships ever. I've lost track to the number of times i've thought 'good fences make good neighbors' when dealing with other sapiens.
January 21, 2023
Read for school.
April 15, 2023
''Before I built a wall I’d ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offense.''
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offense.''
August 11, 2023
fav poem i think
November 14, 2023
A short poem depicting the conflict between Conservatives & Modernists.
January 4, 2024
I strongly dislike poems I did not read this by choice.
July 4, 2024
دیوارها برای جدا کردن انسان ها از همدیگرند!!!
به این شعر پنج ستاره میدم چون من رو حسابی به فکر کردن واداشت.
به این شعر پنج ستاره میدم چون من رو حسابی به فکر کردن واداشت.
March 9, 2025
This poem in blank verses was published for the first time in 1914, as the opener of Frost's second volume of verses, North of Boston, and it has been very well priced since then and until our days.
There is no wonder, as Mr. Frost succeeds like almost none of his equals in creating debates about human behavior, this time "the Wall" being seen like a barrier between people, each of them standing and living in his part of the world.
Of course, the matter is more than serious, but sometimes, as we see below, we must see and enjoy the funny part of it...
"Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it
Where there are cows? But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
There is no wonder, as Mr. Frost succeeds like almost none of his equals in creating debates about human behavior, this time "the Wall" being seen like a barrier between people, each of them standing and living in his part of the world.
Of course, the matter is more than serious, but sometimes, as we see below, we must see and enjoy the funny part of it...
"Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it
Where there are cows? But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Read
January 24, 2023•••Read for school•••
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews