If I had to pick a poet I would read over and over again, it would have to be Robert Frost. From his realistic portrayals of rural life to his command of literary devices, Frost has been recognized by both critics and the public alike. He’s gone on to win multiple Pulitzer Prizes, including becoming a poet laureate. To this day, his poetry continues to be studied by students and writers alike.

Frost grew up in an urban area. His father died of tuberculosis when he was only 11. Even so, he had a relatively normal upbringing, and, as the years passed, he decided to assist his mother in teaching her class, and performed a variety of other professions. During this time, he started writing poetry, and eventually managed to publish his first poem in the New York Independent in 1894. When he graduated Dartmouth College, he went on to Harvard University, though he ultimately had to withdraw due to illness. Afterwards, he worked on a farm for 9 years, where he continued writing. The farm failed, and he returned to teaching.

Frost soon became an honorary member of the Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard. He also started teaching at Amherst College, as well as Middlebury College, where he influenced the school’s writing programs. In 1965, Harvard awarded Frost an honorary degree, alongside Princeton and Oxford. Through his accomplishments in writing, Frost received a Congressional gold medal in 1960. He’s had various places named after him, and built a literary legacy through his successes.

But there was a lot of grief in Frost’s life. Frost’s mother succumbed to cancer. Jeanie, his younger sister, was sent to a mental hospital, and when he married, he had to commit his daughter, Irma, as well. His other daughters, Marjorie, died from puerperal fever, and Elinor died three days after she was born. Frost joined his family on January 29th, 1963, and was buried at the Bennington Old Cemetery, alongside his family. His epitaph reads: “I had a lover’s quarrel with the world.”

Much of Frost’s work explores hidden meanings behind existence. He poses the question of what meaning there could be in a universe that’s indifferent to suffering. He compares this to rural life in America, where the loneliness could be suffocating, so much so it’s enough to drive a person insane. However, Frost also had a tendency to show humanity’s relationship with nature, and by using these rural settings, he’s also able to show what lies beyond ourselves.

Frost has no doubt left a legacy for others to follow. From his poem Fire and Ice, which would later on influence George R.R. Martin to write the A Song of Ice and Fire series, to his rather infamous The Road Not Taken, it’s clear Frost has a talent for words. He takes the experiences in his life and channels them into something creative and powerful, something that allows us to see just how burdensome the idyllic life of a farmer can be. Even now, he continues to be quoted today and admired by millions alike. He pushes writers, myself included, to see the truth for what things are, and not just what we want to believe. He is an inspiration, and will continue to be remembered for decades to come.