Edwin Arlington Robinson 1869-1935.
his parents did not name him.wanted a girl instead.
named by strangers in the town of arlington where he got his middle name at one
youngest of three sons. one look over family, other doctor. him free to do what he pleased
family faced tragedies after dad died, lost money and later mom died.
brother addicted to drugs
raised in a puritan town
death shaped the way in which his poems were written
inspired by john davidson, some believe his work on this poem came from him
in 1897 he published the book The Children of the Night
president roosevelt loves this poem and offered robinson a job at a custom house

writes in quartrains

this poem deals with the religious belief in heaven and hell.
does suicide really lead you to hell.
READ POEM

INTERPRETATION
luke havergal has recently lost his lover
he contemplates committing suicide to be with her again,
with a glass is half full though line 6 second stanza
lays are long and there is no better day without her lines 1&2 stanza one
personification in lines 4&5
repetition in the way the poem opens and end
reference to his life without his love being dark and gloomy

Poem is about sacrafice and going to extremes to be with your loved ones,
enjoyed poem

how far would you go for the love of your life/
is he insane for committing suicide

temptation to do something horrible for a love one