Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Provide, Provide" is a poem by Robert Frost that explores the themes of materialism, mortality, and the human experience. The poem was first published in 1936.

The poem is structured in four stanzas of equal length, and is written in iambic pentameter. The poem's language and imagery evoke a sense of bleakness and despair, as the speaker reflects on the inevitability of death and the futility of human striving.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the desire for material possessions and the way that they can give us a sense of security and comfort. The speaker notes that while these possessions can provide temporary happiness, they ultimately offer no real protection against the ravages of time and the inevitability of death.

Throughout the poem, the speaker reflects on the way that human beings are caught in a cycle of desire and consumption, constantly striving for more even as we know that it will never be enough. The speaker suggests that this endless striving is a form of self-deception, and that it ultimately leads to a sense of despair and hopelessness.

The poem's emotional climax comes in the final stanza, when the speaker reflects on the way that death is the ultimate leveler of all human beings, rich or poor. The poem ends with the iconic lines, "No memory of having starred / Atones for later disregard, / Or keeps the end from being hard."

Overall, "Provide, Provide" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of materialism, mortality, and the human experience. The poem suggests that while we may strive for material possessions and worldly success, these things ultimately offer no real protection against the inevitability of death. The poem encourages us to focus on what is truly important in life, and to find meaning and purpose beyond the endless cycle of desire and consumption.

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