Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Lost Follower" by Robert Frost is a contemplative poem that delves into the conflicts and choices faced by those who pursue poetry and idealism in a world often dominated by materialism and political pursuits. Through vivid imagery and philosophical reflection, Frost explores themes of aspiration, disillusionment, and the quest for a higher purpose.

The poem begins by acknowledging the passionate and noble motivations that drive poets and idealists: "As I have known them passionate and fine / The gold for which they leave the golden line / Of lyrics is a golden light divine." Here, Frost contrasts the "golden light divine" sought by poets with the literal gold mined from the earth, emphasizing the spiritual and transcendent nature of their aspirations.

Frost points out the "strange religious pranks" played by the spirit, which can lead individuals in unexpected directions. He notes that no true poet has ever pursued wealth for its own sake: "No one has ever failed the poet ranks / To link a chain of money-metal banks." Instead, the real danger to poetic integrity lies in the opposite direction—away from the pursuit of material wealth and towards the temptation of political or social activism as a shortcut to achieving the ideals often expressed in poetry.

Some poets, in a state of disillusionment reminiscent of Percy Bysshe Shelley, turn to politics or social movements, hoping to achieve through these means what poetry alone could not: "Some turn in sheer, in Shelleyan dejection / To try if one more popular election / Will give us by short cut the final stage / That poetry with all its golden rage / For beauty on the illuminated page / Has failed to bring—I mean the Golden Age." Frost critiques this shift, suggesting that the pursuit of a utopian "Golden Age" through politics may ultimately be futile and that such aspirations can lead to a loss of poetic purity.

The poem reflects on the sacrifices made by those who abandon their poetic pursuits to live "ungolden with the poor," enduring the hardships of everyday life. This, Frost argues, is the "great anti-lure" of poetry—the challenge of remaining true to one's artistic ideals while navigating a world that often values other forms of success.

The muse mourns the loss of those who retreat from their poetic calling to endure the struggles of ordinary life: "The muse mourns one who went to his retreat / Long since in some abysmal city street." The poet's companion, who shares his sense of the world's defeat, represents the shared disillusionment of those who once aspired to lofty ideals but have since resigned themselves to a more grounded existence.

Frost acknowledges the difficulty of contending with those who believe that social and political change can bring about the utopian vision they long for: "With such it has proved dangerous as friend / Even in a playful moment to contend / That the millennium to which you bend / In longing is not at a progress-end / By grace of state-manipulated pelf." The poet maintains that true fulfillment lies not in political machinations but in the enduring values found in literature and the arts: "But right beside you book-like on a shelf."

The poem concludes with a poignant reflection on the trust and sadness in the eyes of those who still believe in a better world: "He trusts my love too well to deign reply. / But there is in the sadness of his eye, / Something about a kingdom in the sky / (As yet unbrought to earth) he means to try." This ending suggests a bittersweet hope that, despite the disillusionments of the world, the quest for a higher, more idealistic existence continues, even if it remains unfulfilled.

In summary, "The Lost Follower" by Robert Frost is a thoughtful meditation on the struggles of poets and idealists in a materialistic and politically driven world. Through evocative imagery and reflective narrative, Frost explores the tension between poetic aspirations and worldly pursuits, ultimately affirming the enduring value of artistic and spiritual ideals in the face of disillusionment.

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