Robert Frost- The Tuft of Flowers
...s was in order to provide better mowing. This left the grass wet, and it needed to be scattered for drying. In the poem, “turning the grass” refers to the scattering of the grass for drying. The Tuft of Flowers begins with the speaker who has gone out to turn the grass. Whoever did the mowing is already gone, as it is stated “And I must be, as he had been,—alone,” (Line 8). The speaker is obviously alone. Then, a butterfly catches the speakers attention, and leads his gaze to a tuft of flowers that was left un-mowed. The patch of beauty left by this butterfly causes the speaker to feel that he is no longer by himself. There is a sense of understanding between the speaker and the mower, because both share an appreciation for beauty. Many peaceful images are used to explain the meaning behind this poem. The setting is in a grassy field with a brook running through it. A silent butterfly adds to the calmness of the poem, as it searches for a flower to land on. In keeping with the peaceful surroundings, Frost speaks of a “long scythe whispering to the ground,” and of hearing “wakening birds around.” (Line 23,33). The speaker also listens for a “whetstone on the breeze” to determine if there is anyone around, and finds a “leaping tongue of bloom” beside the reedy brook. The Tuft of Flowers follows the poetry scheme of AA, BB. The poem is organized in couplets, however each couplet contains a short, single thought. This could be what makes this poem more unique and peaceful as it is simple. The Tuft of Flowers contains many different thoughts. Whether Frost’s attempts were in metaphorical terms, this poem’s central theme could be about how “Men work together, whether they work together or ap...