Poem Analysis - In A Disused Graveyard

Overview: Graveyard Musings on Life and Death

Robert Frost's "In A Disused Graveyard" is a contemplative poem that explores the complex relationship between the living and the dead. The poem adopts a measured, almost conversational tone, shifting from observation to philosophical reflection. A palpable tension exists between the acceptance of mortality and the human desire to deny its inevitability. The setting of a disused graveyard amplifies the themes of fading memory and the enduring power of death.

Mortality's Unwavering Presence

One of the primary themes of the poem is mortality. Frost presents death as an undeniable force, evident in the graveyard's silent inhabitants and the pronouncements carved into the stones. The verses on the gravestones, "Tomorrow dead will come to stay," serve as a constant reminder of life's finite nature. The poet observes, "So sure of death the marbles rhyme," suggesting an unwavering certainty about death that contrasts with the living's struggle to accept it. The use of "rhyme" implies a structured, inevitable quality to death, like a verse in a grand, tragic poem.

The Living's Dance with Denial

Contrasting with death's certainty is the theme of humanity's resistance to mortality. The poem highlights the living's paradoxical actions. They visit the graveyard, acknowledging death, yet simultaneously seem to shrink from its reality: "What is it men are shrinking from?" The poet suggests the living are unnerved by their seemingly unending existence as the generations of dead stop growing. The poem also implies that humans cling to the hope of escaping death, as seen in the poet's cynical thought that the stones "would believe the lie" about men stopping dying forever. This reveals a deep-seated fear and a desire for immortality.

Memory, Absence and the Echo of Life

The poem evokes the theme of memory and absence through the image of the disused graveyard. The graveyard, once a bustling hub of grief and remembrance, now stands as a silent testament to lives past. The "grassy tread" of the living suggests a superficial engagement with the dead, a brief interruption of the graveyard's solitude. The phrase "no one dead will seem to come" suggests the graveyard is full, and no new ones are coming. The "disused" nature of the graveyard also implies that the memories associated with those buried there are fading, further emphasizing the transient nature of human existence and the eventual erasure of individual identity.

Symbolism of Stone and Grass

The poem is rich with symbolism. The gravestones themselves represent not just death, but also memory and the attempt to immortalize the deceased. However, their cold, hard nature also symbolizes the stark reality of mortality. The grass, on the other hand, symbolizes life and its persistent growth, even in the face of death. The "grassy tread" of the living juxtaposes the lifelessness of the stones, highlighting the ongoing cycle of life and death. Could the "disused" nature of the graveyard suggest a societal shift in how we grieve or remember the dead, perhaps moving away from physical memorials to other forms of remembrance?

A Final Reflection

In "In A Disused Graveyard," Frost masterfully captures the complex and often contradictory relationship between the living and the dead. The poem is a profound meditation on mortality, denial, and the enduring power of memory. By contrasting the certainty of death with the human desire to evade it, Frost invites us to confront our own mortality and consider the meaning we ascribe to life in the face of its inevitable end. The poem ultimately leaves the reader pondering the nature of existence and the human capacity for both acceptance and resistance in the face of death's unwavering presence.