Poets are like baseball pitchers. Both have their moments. The intervals are the tough things

Poets are like baseball pitchers. Both have their moments. The intervals are the tough things

Robert Frost, one of the most celebrated American poets of the 20th century, once famously said, “Poets are like baseball pitchers. Both have their moments. The intervals are the tough things.” This comparison between poets and baseball pitchers is a profound insight into the creative process and the challenges that both artists and athletes face in their respective fields.

Just like a baseball pitcher who must wait for their turn to take the mound and deliver a pitch, a poet must also wait for inspiration to strike before they can create a work of art. The intervals between these moments of inspiration can be grueling for both the poet and the pitcher, as they must constantly hone their skills and stay sharp in order to be ready when their moment arrives.

For Robert Frost, these intervals were a crucial part of his creative process. He often spent long periods of time in solitude, walking in the woods near his home in New England, waiting for the muse to speak to him. Frost understood that creativity cannot be forced, and that sometimes the best ideas come when we least expect them.

In his poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” Frost captures the beauty and stillness of a winter night, as well as the sense of peace and contemplation that can be found in nature. The poem reflects Frost’s own experience of finding inspiration in the quiet moments between the busyness of everyday life.

Like a baseball pitcher who must stay focused and disciplined during the intervals between pitches, Frost knew that he had to be patient and persistent in his pursuit of poetic greatness. He understood that creativity is not always a linear process, and that sometimes the most profound insights come when we least expect them.