In "Carpe Diem" by Robert Frost, the poet explores the timeless theme of seizing the present moment and the complexities of human perception and experience of time. Through the portrayal of two quiet children walking by at twilight and the speaker's reflection on their fleeting presence, Frost delves into the concept of living in the moment, cherishing the present, and pondering the balance between happiness and the awareness of its transience.
Carpe Diem by Robert Frost
Age saw two quiet children
Go loving by at twilight,
He knew not whether homeward,
Or outward from the village,
Or (chimes were ringing) churchward,
He waited, (they were strangers)
Till they were out of hearing
To bid them both be happy.
'Be happy, happy, happy,
And seize the day of pleasure.'
The age-long theme is Age's.
'Twas Age imposed on poems
Their gather-roses burden
To warn against the danger
That overtaken lovers
From being overflooded
With happiness should have it.
And yet not know they have it.
But bid life seize the present?
It lives less in the present
Than in the future always,
And less in both together
Than in the past. The present
Is too much for the senses,
Too crowding, too confusing
Too present to imagine.
Critical Analysis
"Carpe Diem" explores the theme of seizing the present moment and the complexities of how humans perceive time and happiness. The poem begins with the observation of two children walking by at twilight, suggesting a fleeting and transient moment. The speaker acknowledges the children's quiet love but notes the uncertainty of their direction, whether they are going homeward, outward from the village, or toward the church.
The theme of carpe diem, which encourages the seizing of the present day, is introduced as Age's "age-long theme." The speaker reflects on how age has imposed on poems the notion of gathering roses while cautioning against becoming overflooded with happiness to the point of not fully realizing its presence. This speaks to the idea that sometimes individuals can be so consumed by the pursuit of happiness that they fail to truly experience it.
The poem suggests that while happiness should be seized and cherished, it is challenging for individuals to fully live in the present. The speaker asserts that the present lives less in the present than in the future, and even less in both present and future combined than in the past. This thought-provoking notion challenges the conventional idea of seizing the moment, suggesting that the present can be overwhelming and hard to grasp.
Themes of the Poem
- Carpe Diem: The poem engages with the theme of seizing the present moment, but also reflects on the complexities of experiencing happiness and time.
- Perception of Time: The poem explores the human perception of time, suggesting that the present is difficult to fully grasp and that individuals tend to live more in the past or future.
- Fleeting Moments: The presence of the two children walking by at twilight symbolizes the fleeting nature of moments that demand to be seized and cherished.
Stylistic Analysis
- Imagery: The imagery of the quiet children walking by at twilight and the chimes ringing churchward contributes to the atmospheric and reflective tone of the poem.
- Contrast: The poem contrasts the notion of seizing the present with the complexity of fully experiencing the present moment.
Attitudes/Feelings
- Ambivalence: The poem conveys an ambivalence toward the idea of seizing the present, highlighting the challenges of fully experiencing happiness in the present moment.
- Reflection: The speaker's introspective tone reflects on the implications of carpe diem and the nature of human perception and experience.
Language
- Philosophical Language: The poem engages with philosophical ideas about time, happiness, and the human experience.
- Metaphorical Language: The "gather-roses burden" metaphorically represents the caution against excessive pursuit of happiness.
Sound Devices
- Rhyme and Rhythm: The poem follows a consistent rhyme scheme and rhythm, contributing to its contemplative and reflective flow.