Lyrks
Lyrks
Sign In
Cover Art

A Cabin in the Clearing Lyrics by Robert Frost

In the Clearing

0

A Cabin in the Clearing
--for Alfred Edwards

MIST
I don't believe the sleepers in this house
Know where they are.

SMOKE
They've been here long enough
To push the woods back from around the house
And part them in the middle with a path.

MIST
And still I doubt if they know where they are.
And I begin to fear they never will.
All they maintain the path for is the comfort
Of visiting with the equally bewildered.
Nearer in plight their neighbors are than distance.

SMOKE
I am the guardian wraith of starlit smoke
That leans out this and that way from their chimney.
I will not have their happiness despaired of.

MIST
No one - not I - would give them up for lost
Simply because they don't know where they are.
I am the damper counterpart of smoke
That gives off from a garden ground at night
But lifts no higher than a garden grows.
I cotton to their landscape. That's who I am.
I am no further from their fate than you are.

SMOKE
They must by now have learned the native tongue.
Why don't they ask the Red Man where they are?

MIST
They often do, and none the wiser for it.
So do they also ask philosophers
Who come to look in on them from the pulpit.
They will ask anyone there is to ask -
In the fond faith accumulated fact
Will of itself take fire and light the world up.
Learning has been a part of their religion.

SMOKE
If the day ever comes when they know who
They are, they may know better where they are.
But who they are is too much to believe -
Either for them or the onlooking world..
They are too sudden to be credible.

MIST
Listen, they murmur talking in the dark
On what should be their daylong theme continued.
Putting the lamp out has not put their thought out.
Let us pretend the dewdrops from the eaves
Are you and I eavesdropping on their unrest -
A mist and smoke eavesdropping on a haze -
And see if we can tell the bass from the soprano.

Than smoke and mist who better could appraise
The kindred spirit of an inner haze.
Credits
Robert Frost

Robert Frost

About “A Cabin in the Clearing” by Robert Frost

Read the complete lyrics to "A Cabin in the Clearing" by Robert Frost from the album "In the Clearing". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"A Cabin in the Clearing" is performed by Robert Frost. from the album "In the Clearing" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "A Cabin in the Clearing", explore more songs by Robert Frost using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Robert Frost · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"A Cabin in the Clearing" is credited to Robert Frost. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"A Cabin in the Clearing" appears on "In the Clearing".

Visit the Robert Frost artist page at /artist/robert-frost for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

A Hundred Collars
A Dream Pang
A Brook in the City
A Considerable Speck
A Girl’s Garden
A Boundless Moment
A Cliff Dwelling
A Hillside Thaw
Lyrks
Lyrks

Your gateway to the world of music lyrics.

Product

Features

Company

About

Artists

Trending

Legal

Privacy

Terms

Copyright

Support

Contact

Features

Charts

© 2026 Lyrks. All rights reserved.