Explication: Gathering Leaves

In Robert Frost's poem gathering leaves, Frost embraces the fall and the cleanup duty that comes along with it- raking leaves. Frost seems to really enjoy fall and nature. Most of the poem we read were either about nature or made many references to it in some way. I really enjoy this about Frost and I think it is what makes his poetry so special and beautiful. He is able to see things that many people do not notice in their daily lives. In the poem, "gathering leaves" he is able to show, what I see, as appreciation for such a mundane task. He calls the piles of leaves he creates "mountains." Also, many people may complain about having to carry bags of leaves back and forth but Frost opens his poem by calling the bags "light as balloons." Another reason that Frost seems to love the fall is that it is a season of harvest. He finishes his poem by saying "And Who's to say where, The harvest shall stop?" This line to me showed that although he has to work throughout the fall, he enjoys it and also needs it. Even when the leaves lose their color, frost seems to indicate that he still may have to work. To most that might have worked outdoors, maybe the leaves falling were a symbol of the work year slowing down. But, for frost, the work year does not seem to have a definitive end. I really enjoyed reading this poem, especially now during the fall. It seems that Frost is always able to give something so simple a different perspective.