"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is a poem by Robert Frost that describes a speaker's experience of coming upon a quiet, snowy forest while on a journey. The speaker is drawn to the peacefulness of the woods, but ultimately decides to continue on their journey and fulfill their obligations.
In the first stanza, the speaker describes the setting of the woods, which is "lovely, dark, and deep." The speaker is on horseback and is paused in their journey to take in the beauty of the snowy woods. The speaker notes that they have "miles to go before [they] sleep," implying that they have a long journey ahead of them.
In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on the peacefulness of the woods, noting that they are "lovely, dark, and deep." The speaker feels a sense of restfulness in the woods and wishes they could stay there longer. However, they are aware that they have promises to keep and cannot stay.
In the third stanza, the speaker addresses the horse they are riding, urging it to "find its way home" while the speaker remains in the woods. The speaker seems to be torn between their desire to stay in the peaceful woods and their sense of duty to continue on their journey.
In the final stanza, the speaker resolves to continue on their journey and fulfill their obligations. They acknowledge that the woods are "lovely, dark, and deep," but they also know that they have "miles to go before [they] sleep." The speaker reluctantly leaves the peaceful woods and continues on their journey.
Overall, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is a contemplative poem that captures the beauty and peacefulness of nature, as well as the internal struggle of fulfilling one's responsibilities. The imagery of the snowy woods serves as a metaphor for the tranquility and solitude that can be found within oneself, but ultimately the speaker must return to the external world and fulfill their duties.