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Unpublished variation of a poem done by Robert Frost !
Frost is one of the most popular and critically respected American poets of the twentieth century; Frost was honored frequently during his lifetime, receiving four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. He became one of America's rare "public literary figures, almost an artistic institution." He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1960 for his poetical works. On July 22, 1961, Frost was named Poet laureate of Vermont.
In this original manuscript Frost changed or removed multiple Stanzas and words from another poem which he published called “ A Record Stride”. This unique version is titled, "A Record For Me". After research and correspondence with other Frost experts it is believed that this poem was most likely written for a family member or close friend, possibly even for himself. There is also a possibility that this is an original draft of the Poem that later became "A Record Stride" This poem is very biographical, and deeply vulnerable and revealing, and with the many differences he made we believe to be quite a significant find.
In the new poem he removed two stanza's. One stanza referring to his grandchildren and in another it had referred to the United States. Frost also substituted words for two other stanzas. In the 5th stanza, 1st line he originally said take my tongue to (the shoes now), which has now been replaced with (to their leather) instead. Another change is in the 6th stanza last line he changed I (should sell for what)to I(Ought to see what) they would fetch. To find any unpublished Manuscripts by a Pulitzer Prize winning poet are quite rare and desirable, we are proud to offer such a spectacular piece of Robert Frost poetry.
The Poem is also accompanied with a group of 7 original Christmas poetry leaflets, a few are quite scarce, and two original dinner invitations in his honor. It interesting to note that one of these was Frost's own invite for the dinner with his name on the envelope "Master Frost "and that some of the original envelopes for the Christmas poems are still present but are unused.
The Christam cards are :
From a Milkweed Pod
New York: Spiral Press, 1954. 1st edition, original illustrated paperwraps (as issued). Published as Frost's Christmas greeting for 1954, with a new poem by Frost and wood engravings by Thomas W. Nason.
Triple Plate
New York: Spiral Press, 1939. 1st edition, original dark blue wire stitched paperwraps. Published as a Holiday Greeting with a poem by Frost, and illustrated with decorations by Fritz Eichenberg.
To A Young Wretch
New York: Spiral Press, 1937. First edition. Holiday greeting, this one with the "Elinor & Robert Frost" imprint. Illustrated with woodcuts by J.J. Lankes. Plain white paperwraps in thin, gold dust jacket printed in black. Very good example of this very fragile jacket.
Neither Our Far Nor In Deep
New York: Spiral Press Christmas card with the imprint of Ann and Joseph Blumenthal. He founded the Spiral Press which published these cards. Sewn wraps. Fine Condition Clean and tight. Woodcut by J.J. Lankes. Bauer Bodoni type. Condition:Very good
On Making Certain Anything Has Happened
1050 copies issued with this imprints (of a total printing of 2600 copies)]. Twentyfourmo, decorative wrappers, [16] pages, stapled; decorations by Armin Landeck. Publisher's printed statement (on second leaf): "This new poem by Robert Frost comes to you with Holiday Greetings from Henry Holt & Company, December 1945" [published with various imprints, this issue has the "Henry Holt & Company" imprint]. A fine copy
A Wishing Well
Spiral Press, New York, 1959. Soft Cover. Thomas W. Nason (illustrator). 'At Christmas 1959 this new poem brings you warm holiday greetings and the best of wishes for the New Year from Henry Holt and Company.' Softcover, french covers; 16mo, stapled cream paper wraps; wood engravings by Nason; Fine Condition
It is possible that this collection was Frost’s personal poem and his own copies of the special Christmas cards he would send out over the years for close friends and family.
Here is the Poem:
"A Record For Me"
In a Vermont bedroom closet
With a door of two broad boards
And for back wall a crumbling old chimney
(And that's what their toes are towards ),
I have a pair of shoes standing,
Old rivals of sagging leather,
Who once kept surpassing each other,
But now live even together.
They listen for me in the bedroom
To ask me a thing or two
About who is too old to go walking,
With too much stress on the who.
I wet one last year at Montauk
For a hat I had to save.
The other I wet at the Cliff House
In an extra vagant wave.
I touch my tongue to their leather,
And unless my sense is at fault,
On one I can taste Atlantic,
On the other Pacific, salt.
One foot in each great ocean
Is a record stride or stretch.
The authentic shoes it was made in
I ought to see what they would fetch.
But instead I proudly devote them
To my museum and muse;
So the thick-skins needn't act thin-skinned
About being past-active shoes.
R.F.