Once by the Pacific
By: Robert Frost
Spencer Lawniczak
Theme
Facing a fear on the beach that left him thinking.
Imagery
"The clouds were low and hairy in the skies"
This shows that the clouds were not good-looking and that they were not normal clouds.
"The cliff is being backed by continent"
This expresses that the cliff is natural and that it wasn't man-made but made from nature.
"Great waves looked over others coming in"
The night his father left him on the beach had made him realize great waves were getting bigger as he looked into the ocean.
Rhyme
"The shatter water made a misty din"
"Great waves looked over others coming in"
"And thought of doing something to the shore"
"That water never did to land before"
"Was coming, and not only a night, an age"
"Someone had better be prepared for rage"
Personification
"It looked as if a night of dark intent"
The night was very dark and hard to see as his father went into the ocean.
"Someone had better be prepared for rage"
Robert was mad at his father for abandoning him while he went out in the ocean.
"There would be more than ocean-water broken"
Robert was heart-broken when his father had abandoned him in the night.
Why I liked this poem
I liked this poem because I can imagine Robert as he stands there frustrated and heart-broken as his dad swims off not caring about Robert.