Appreciation of the poem A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost

           “Doing today’s work superbly today. That is the only possible way you can prepare for the future” says famous writer Dale Carnegie. Yet, we forget this simple principle. Today people imagine themselves to be traveling in a rush train cramped not just with luggage but also with thoughts for tomorrow. Robert Frost’s poem “A Prayer in Spring” is an answer to all those people who are anxious about their future. It is addressed to none but God to give the entire humanity pleasure in the flowers of the day. He requests God that man be given a talent not to worry about his future but to enjoy the beauty of the present moment.

            We are then introduced a pleasurable sight of white orchard which is surrounded by swarms of bees and throngs of birds who are eager to collect nectar. A single scene like this with tranquillity (quietness) is greater than all the complexities of modern life. This is the reason why the poet is asking God to make us happy in the darting bird. The poet implies that in his attempt to make his life easier man has actually made it all the more complex by inventing so many things. Almost all his inventions have made his life a hell. The latest of them is the development of Artificial Intelligence which many think will be the last inventions of human beings as there is great fear that AI will destroy human race. It must be noted that people have begun to say that rather than determine the GDP of a nation it is time that we worked on the Happiness Index. Coming back to the poem, the poet concludes by saying that God has created a beautiful world and the job of man is to enjoy it than to worry about what he shall do with it. He also says that this is divine love which we might not be able to see anywhere. The poet reminds us that man’s duty is to enjoy the beautiful moment of the present time and share them with his fellow beings.

            Many poetic devices are used by the poet which include the use of simile in the line: “Like nothing by day, like ghosts by night”, metaphor in the line: “The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill” and alliteration in the line: “And of a blossom in mid-air stands still”.

-Anjoe-