The poem itself acts as an extended metaphor for the conflict between desire and obligation.

 

The speaker stopped by the woods to observe the natural beauty and snowfall in the woods. He wanted to enjoy the calmness of the dark, deep, lovely woods.

 

The poem is often interpreted as conveying an attraction toward death, indicated in the final lines: '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. ' Here, the woods and the 'sleep' to which the speaker refers represent death.

 

' taps on several themes such as life, death, commitment, pessimism vs optimism, and darkness. The main theme of this piece is the journey of life. It is present throughout the poem and highlighted in the last few lines.

 

The text of the poem reflects the thoughts of a lone wagon driver (the narrator), pausing at dusk in his travel to watch snow falling in the woods. It ends with him reminding himself that, despite the loveliness of the view, "I have promises to keep, / And miles to go before I sleep."

 

The speaker is stopping by some woods on a snowy evening. He or she takes in the lovely scene in near-silence, is tempted to stay longer, but acknowledges the pull of obligations and the considerable distance yet to be traveled before he or she can rest for the night.

 

The horse thinks it is "queer" or odd to stop in the middle of the woods because it seems his owner never does this. We know this because the speaker tells us that his "little" horse is used to stopping near farmhouses.

 

Hence, the phrase "miles to go before I sleep" means that the poet has a lot to achieve in life before death descends on him

 

Woods represent sensuous enjoyment (lovely), the darkness of ignorance (dark) as well as the dark inner self of man (deep). The last two lines mean that the poet Robert Frost has to fulfill his promises and has to travel a lot of distance before he can rest.

 

The speaker's thoughts and reflections on this "darkest evening" reflect his sense of isolation and contemplation in the midst of nature