Dreams Of Riding A Horse Down A Steep Hill In Snow Then There Is Water At The End That We Need To

What does "And miles to go before I sleep" mean?

“Stopping by woods on a snowy evening”—Robert FrostWe were taught this poem thrice in our curriculum (class 4, 7, 10).As a result I remember this poem by heart.Each time we were told deeper meaning of the poetry and its words.Class 4- The literal meaning. At that time it just meant the poet has to travel miles before he reaches home and sleeps.Class 7— Metaphorical meaning of sleep This time we were told how sleep is a metaphor for death. The poet has to fulfill a lot of responsibilities before he dies.Class 10—Metaphors throughout the poem This time We were told the metaphors used in the entire poem.The woods symbolize all the temptations that we have in our lives. The horse symolizes our inner conscience . The shaking of bell symbolizes how our inner conscience keeps reminding us to focus on our goals.“And miles to go before I sleep”“And miles to go before I sleep”This line is repeated twice so as to stress on the fact that we have to fulfill a lot of responsibilities and promises before we die.Our inner conscience keeps on reminding us to stay away from temptations and always strive to fulfill our responsibilities and promises.The beautiful poemWhose woods these are I think I know.His house is in the village though;He will not see me stopping hereTo watch his woods fill up with snow.My little horse must think it queerTo stop without a farmhouse nearBetween the woods and frozen lakeThe darkest evening of the year.He gives his harness bells a shakeTo ask if there is some mistake.The only other sound’s the sweepOf easy wind and downy flake.The woods are lovely, dark and deep,But I have promises to keep,And miles to go before I sleep,And miles to go before I sleep.