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I think you love it because it says something about something being "loosely bound."

Frost read a poem at JFK's inauguration. You probably know that. Instead of it making me think more of Robert Frost, it made me love JFK. Does that make sense. No.

Caroline Kennedy has a couple of poetry books out, and I'm sure Frost is represented. You probably know that. Hey, I'm just commenting, not trying to issue any profound statements!

But, the only reason I know of Frost is due to a President who cared about The Arts, and included poetry in his speeches. I cannot think of Frost without thinking of Kennedy. I can contrast that with our current prez who instead of poetry makes me think of torture. Others, and mine.

Not to be picky, but you have an extra letter in the word "owe" in the following line:

"Seems to owe naught to any single cord,"

Although I once registered myself as "Frost Fan" in reference to a particular post, I had never before read this poem.

Thank you for passing it on. It is an excellent example of why Frost's poetry lasts. Although it seems simple, it has complex layers of meaning. Besides the breathtaking beauty of the imagery, it captures the tension informing the life of a beautiful women, standing gorgeously tall and seemingly free but feeling the tug of the loose connections that actually open her up to the world and give her life depth and meaning. Or so it seems to me.

Must read more poetry...

Olinda,

Yup.

Clinton had Maya Angelou read a poem at his inauguration. But JFK seemed to be more committed to saying that the classical arts are not just for the rich.

Frost fan, I've fixed the typo. Thank you.

I actually don't think this poem is about a beautiful woman. I take it as being more universal than that, but I like your way of putting what the tug of connection does.

The first line using the feminine pronoun seems to me to set up the rest of the poem as an extended simile comparing some otherwise undefined "She" to the silken tent. Having lived through the sexual revolution of the 60s and 70s as an adult woman brought up in a male-dominated society, I am keenly aware of the challenge inherent in finding the balance between freedom and commitment. (Not just for women, but that is my angle of vision.)

But your preference for the universality of the poem's message is certainly present in the text, and bears out my comment on the layers of meaning.

Being curious about the typo, I found the poem on some web site and couldn't resist reading the dozen or so comments posted there.
http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/robertfrost/757

My reading was no doubt influenced by the comments that agreed with my impression of the poem.

Isn't the Internet wonderful?

The "she" is certainly unmistakable.

Miriam Udel Lambert, the lecturer who read this poem to us, had it connected, through a typically Talmudic inventiveness, to Song of Songs.

Very well organized site. I particularly liked the resources section.
Will use it to plan my next trip to NWT. See you soon.

My favourite poem by Robert Frost is "The Road Not Taken"

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

What if the silken tent's a beautiful web, made by an unnamed female, that's seen against the plain background of a field, that seems attached by "guys" to a cedar pole (a woman's not a cedar pole) that points heavenward, and that with the shaking of one strand announces the bondage of the being trapped in it? Frost loved the Metaphsical poets. What if the poem's a conceit?

The first time I read it, I thought perhaps the woman might be a bit loose, and is looked upon as a sexual desire from "guys" because of her silken texture etc...

Yup.
I'm a student in HAFS, in Republic of South Korea.
I'm presently doing a research on The Silken Tent by Robert Frost.
I'd be so appreciated if anyone of you contact me further.

The "guys" refers to the two lines used when sailing with the spinnaker out. It does not refer to men. It is a stablizer line.

There is something beautiful about this poem and that is the length of sentences.which makes you stick to it and read till the end of the sentence.And then come back and think about the meaning.I think there is something special about the meaning .Tonight I read it 3 times, I got the meaning but not the hidden meanings.

ihated it it was suk ass bad and iwant him fuarrrd!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like "the road not taken"...
I found you on Google for Metaphysical blog search. Hmmmmm? Are you metaphysical?

Thank You
Taylore Vance
Reiki Healing Master
Reiki Energy Healing