A Star in A Stone-Boat by Robert Frost (Summary)

 

A Star in A Stone-Boat

by Robert Frost

(Summary) 

"A Star in a Stone-Boat" is a poem by Robert Frost that tells the story of a man who goes out to sea in a stone boat. The boat is made entirely of stone, and is both beautiful and sturdy. The man sets sail, but soon finds himself lost in the vastness of the ocean. As he sails, he sees a star in the sky, and he begins to follow it, hoping that it will lead him to safety.

The man becomes obsessed with the star, and begins to see it as a sign of hope and salvation. He sails for days and nights, always following the star, until finally he reaches land. However, he soon realizes that the land he has found is not the paradise he had hoped for. Instead, it is a barren, inhospitable place, with no food or water.

The man becomes despondent, and begins to regret his obsession with the star. He realizes that he had been blinded by his hope, and had not been paying attention to the reality of his situation. He decides to set sail again, this time without any particular destination in mind. As he sails, he reflects on the lessons he has learned, and realizes that the journey is just as important as the destination.

The poem is a metaphor for the human condition, and the search for meaning and purpose in life. It suggests that it is important to have a sense of direction and purpose, but also that one must be mindful of the journey itself, and not become so obsessed with the destination that one loses sight of the present moment.