Fire and Ice By: Robert Frost

I enjoyed reading this short poem by Robert Frost. The poem is set up to depict the end of the world, but the author adds a touch of emotional meaning to each line. Fire to me was viewed as passion or desire and perhaps chaos. Fire is the exaggeration of emotions, our vices, and bad deeds. as Ice is viewed as coldness, hatred, or can also be perceived as deep loneliness. Ice is the concrete emotionless end to a whirlwind of events. Both are related to one another in very similar terms (both being the end or final result, and not necessarily in a nice way). This poem could be an end to a relationship, a battle of identity which someone experiences, or just what it intends to come off as, the end of the world. I think Robert Frost is saying that both Fire and Ice (in emotional terms) are destructive, but can be destructive in very different ways to a persons life. I would recommend this poem to a friend because it can have multiple meanings depending on how you read it.

Ask Me By: William Stanford

I enjoyed reading this poem by William Stafford. It had a very soothing and relaxed tone to it. I envisioned a man who had been through life, yet still remained at ease with himself and actions. "Some time when the river is ice ask me mistakes I have made. Ask me whether what I have done is my life." (Line 1) I interpreted that line as saying Once things are said and done, who has time to question mistakes or wrongful doings in life? Everything a person does in his/her life is not subjected to critiquing once its been lived out. Dwelling in the past, whether it be good or bad, has no real purpose for the "now". "What the river says, that is what I say." (Line 14) The poets thoughts are like the river, continuous and ever flowing. I would recommend this poem to anyone because I believe it is not that difficult to understand, and it carries a very thought provoking aspect to it.