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R Meager's avatar

"The only thing that had brought him to London that day was a wandering mood." This kind of shit -- on a smaller scale -- also happens to me -- ON A SMALLER SCALE (though something like this is is how i met the mentor who ended up writing me the letter that i suspect got me into MIT for my PhD). It is enough to make one a little religious. ONLY A LITTLE.

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Will Orr-Ewing's avatar

Thank you for explaining why early 20th C copies of my old school magazine are about 90% poetry - submitted by boys and masters!

Will you write on Edward Thomas? Please!

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Henry Oliver's avatar

haha yes indeed, the poetry craze in schools was real---talent misallocation! I might, but I confess I do not love him the way I love some others. Time to re-read...

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Rajesh Achanta's avatar

Fascinating - Frost is a favourite but I didn't know this unusual 'origin' story.

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Anthony Marigold's avatar

A real pleasure to read this.

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Rebecca D. Martin's avatar

I love these literary historical tidbits! Frost in England. That's fun to imagine.

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Henry Oliver's avatar

A very compelling moment in his life

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Gaye Ingram's avatar

Thank you for this review of Frost's real beginnings. It captures the spirit of that era, a time when poetry still was treasured for what it was and did. I'm headed to my library to pull down biography of Frost.

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Henry Oliver's avatar

Which one?

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Gaye Ingram's avatar

Thompson two-volume..

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Mike Gioia's avatar

Frost's life is quite unexpected. Great piece. Thanks for writing this. It reminds me of one my favorite, obscure Robert Frost quotes which may be relevant for your study of late bloomers:

“I couldn't have held my own and done myself credit unless I had been a quitter. My infant industries needed the protection of a dead space around them. Everyone was too strong for me, but at least I was strong enough not to stay where they were.”

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Rona Maynard's avatar

His poems deepen as the years go by. Earth’s the right place for love, whether England or New Hampshire. I didn’t know about his late start or the role of serendipity in his career. Thank you.

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Clara Venegas's avatar

Thank God for that party then. He's one of my favorite poets.

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Henry Oliver's avatar

He's simply the best.

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