Stopping By Woods

SSA with cello (or other melody instrument)

Duration 4:00

Text by Robert Frost

Notes

During my sabbatical from high school teaching in 1998, I set this wonderful poem for the Women’s Ensemble at my school. I didn’t realize at the time that the poem was not in the public domain. Luckily it has just come into the public domain. I like the piece with cello, but it has also been performed with viola and clarinet.

Text

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of 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.