Fire & Ice

Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

To be honest, the first time I read this poem I didn’t quite understand it. I tried to google for the meaning and metephor yet for a reason or two I couldn’t relate to the idea that the author was trying to convey. I researched that the poem is about world destruction and despair. I find that the overall tone and mood of this poem is quite dark and moody.

Tone (Treatment of Photos)

The images were taken after a heavy downpour. In order to further amplified the idea of the poem, the tone of the photos are treated slightly colder to match the idea of the poem. When viewed, it is supposed to evoke cold and isolated feeling from the audience.

Interpretation

I decided to break down the poem and interpreted it my own way instead. When I re-read the poem again and I am actually more comfortable relating it to human’s relationship and desires instead. I took the poem personally. In addition, the direction of my interpretation is slightly similar to the original meaning: Dark and moody. How I see this poem is about ultimate doom and destruction and tragic ending. It’s as if there is a fair share of indulgence set aside for despair.

I shall break down the poem and place them accordingly to the images as seen below.

Some say the world will end in fire

Relating the image to this line, how I view this line is, you can have multiple partners in your life. You can choose to live your life flamboyantly with many different companions. You can choose to colour your blank canvas with the wide spectrum of colours that painted your life. You can spend it promiscuously and live onto the fact that ‘you only live once’.

Some say in ice.

You can also choose to live your life faithfully with one partner. You will stay loyal and never stray. You can and will only pay tribute to your sole partner and no one else. You will spend the life of your life with your special someone and you focus all your attention solely on your partner. It can potentially become a form of obsession that your partner even becomes your religion.

From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate

In anyways, whether you choose to live with multiple partners or with a faithful lover, both is able to satisfy your inner craving and spiritual desires. Ultimately, how you choose to live your life, is your decision. In the end everybody is going to end up dying and succumbed to death itself. There are numerous ways to die and perish yet we will all remain in the urns systematically placed in the columbarium.

To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

They say life is a journey, not a destination. Life is all about what you make it. Life is about your achievements in life. Life is this, life is that. Yet, what exactly is the destination? Death. Even though we may perish in different ways, in glorified manner with our lover or sinfully with multiple partners, we are still heading towards the same direction: Death. It is only a one way ticket.

How you want to live your life, you live it, you choose it.