“Mending Walls”

To the Editor:

The poem “Mending Walls” by Robert Frost was written in 1914.

The first line states“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.” Either man or nature is always tearing down the wall. In the poem, two men are discussing the wall. The one building the wall says “Good fences make good neighbors.” This reminds me of what is happening with our political differences today. We put up walls and are afraid to cross them. A wall suggests mistrust and exclusion, yet some feel it makes “good neighbors.” In the poem, the two men discuss their different feelings about walls without animosity. It suggests that there is a feeling of understanding of their differences as they both work together to mend the wall. It is inevitable that we will have conflicts throughout life, personally and nationally. Can we find commonality?

I hope it is not too late.

Patty Reid La Grange