Mending Wall

"Mending Wall" is a metaphorical poem written in blank verse, published in 1914, by Robert Frost (1874–1963). The poem appeared in Frost's second collection of poetry, North of Boston. It is set in the countryside and is about one man questioning why he and his neighbor must rebuild the stone wall dividing their farms each spring.

It is perhaps best known for its line spoken by the neighbor: "Good fences make good neighbors." The poem's narrator displays a disdain for the expression and the walls erected between people, and yet he also shows a grudging acceptance (albeit sadly) of the line's truth in its application to human relationships. The line is listed by the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations as a mid 17th century proverb, which was given a boost in the American consciousness due to its prominence in the poem.

See also

Dry stone

External links

• Mending Wall at Poets.org
• Various critics discuss "Mending Wall".