Mowing : Summary
Mowing is a notable literary work by Robert Frost. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Mowing.
Summary
Text Analysis
The poem “Mowing” is about a farmer who is cutting grass in a field on a hot summer day. He is working alone beside the woods. The only sound around him is the soft “whispering” of his long scythe moving through the grass. The poem beautifully shows the peace, honesty, and satisfaction of hard work.
Whispering of the Scythe: The speaker (the farmer) says that there is no other sound near the woods except the sound of his scythe whispering to the ground as he works. The scythe seems almost alive, as if it is speaking softly while cutting the grass. He wonders what the scythe is whispering about. Maybe it is whispering about the strong heat of the sun that shines down on him. Or maybe it is whispering about the silence all around, which is why the sound of the scythe seems so soft and secret — like a whisper instead of a loud voice.
The Value of Honest, Hard Work: The speaker says that his scythe is not whispering about any dream of getting easy rewards or magical gold from fairies or elves. In other words, the speaker is not imagining any fantasy or magic. He does not daydream about easy rewards or quick success overnight. He believes in hard and honest work. His scythe whispers only about real, honest work — not lazy dreams or unreal hopes. He believes that truth and hard work are more valuable than false dreams. Anything more than truth would feel weak and fake compared to his true love for hard work.
Real Work is the Sweetest Dream: The speaker continues mowing the field with deep love and care. As he cuts the grass, he lays it neatly in rows. Among the grass, there are some small, weak flowers (pale orchises) and even a bright green snake that runs away in fear. These small details show how closely the speaker observes nature while working. In the end, the speaker says:
“The fact is the sweetest dream that labor knows.”
It means the truth of hard work is the sweetest dream a person can have. For him, real work gives more satisfaction than any imaginary dream. His scythe keeps whispering and cutting the grass to be dried and used later. “Mowing” teaches that honest physical labor, done with love and dedication, gives real happiness.