S1 E3: Asking for Roses by Robert Frost

Posted byRebecca BuddPosted inPoetry in the Evening, Reading RoomTags:, ,

Welcome to Poetry in the Evening with Robert Frost.

Robert Frost described how poetry came to him by these words: “A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness.” When I read “Asking for Roses” I felt that same lump in the throat. 

Asking for Roses by Robert Frost

A house that lacks, seemingly, mistress and master,
     With doors that none but the wind ever closes,
Its floor all littered with glass and with plaster;
     It stands in a garden of old-fashioned roses.

I pass by that way in the gloaming with Mary;   
     ‘I wonder,’ I say, ‘who the owner of those is.
‘Oh, no one you know,’ she answers me airy,
     ‘But one we must ask if we want any roses.’

So we must join hands in the dew coming coldly
     There in the hush of the wood that reposes,
And turn and go up to the open door boldly,
     And knock to the echoes as beggars for roses.

‘Pray, are you within there, Mistress Who-were-you?’
     ’Tis Mary that speaks and our errand discloses.
‘Pray, are you within there? Bestir you, bestir you!
     ’Tis summer again; there’s two come for roses.

‘A word with you, that of the singer recalling—
     Old Herrick: a saying that every maid knows is
A flower unplucked is but left to the falling,
     And nothing is gained by not gathering roses.’

We do not loosen our hands’ intertwining
     (Not caring so very much what she supposes),
There when she comes on us mistily shining
     And grants us by silence the boon of her roses.

Published by Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

4 thoughts on “S1 E3: Asking for Roses by Robert Frost”

    1. Thank you Mandy for your lovely comments. Poetry and writing “given voice” is my project for 2022. I have been reciting poetry to an empty room for several years because when the words are spoken I have a deeper understanding of the message. When I speak the words, it is as if I am making them part of me. The next step was to read poetry in nature. And now, what I want to do is to record the poetry on a new podcast: Rebecca’s Reading Room. Anchor now accepts videos that can be watched on Spotify. What I have found over the last couple of years is that there are only a few who are reciting their poetry or stories. I hope to encourage poets/writers to record their voices. We are now a global world where virtual connections offer support and encouragement. It gives comfort, knowing we are not alone.

      This is the Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/show/5XcyZnNVBPAfFxu9qtJ8cr?si=ViAiJJebTHCF0fX7LDDTkQ
      (Hope it works for you – would love your comments on whether you can see the video.

      Liked by 1 person

      2. I think you have to click on the photo, but I will check it out on my side. Thank you for seeing if the video came through. It is a new feature so I know that there will be updates as we go along. Think of how much WordPress has changed over the years. Running to catch up!!! LOL

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