Mending Wall

    Something there is that doesn't love a wall，

    That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it，

    And spills the upper boulders¹ in the sun；

    And makes gaps even two can pass abreast².

    The work of hunters is another thing：

    I have come after them and made repair

    Where they have left not one stone on a stone，

    But they would have the rabbit out of hiding，

    To please the yelping³ dogs.  The gaps I mean，

    No one has seen them made or heard them made，

    But at spring mending-time we find them there.

    I let my neighbor know beyond the hill；

    And on a day we meet to walk the line

    And set the wall between us once again.

    We keep the wall between us as we go.

    To each the boulders that have fallen to each.

    And some are loaves and some so nearly balls

    We have to use a spell to make them balance：

    'Stay where you are until our backs are turned！'

    We wear our fingers rough with handling them.

    Oh， just another kind of outdoor game，

    One on a side.  It comes to little more：

    There where it is we do not need the wall：

    He is all pine and I am apple orchard⁴.

    My apple trees will never get across

    And eat the cones⁵ under his pines， I tell him.

    He only says， 'Good fences make good neighbors.'

    Spring is the mischief⁶ in me， and I wonder

    If I could put a notion in his head：

    'Why do they make good neighbors？  Isn't it

    Where there are cows？  But here there are no cows.

    Before I built a wall I'd ask to know

    What I was walling in or walling out，

    And to whom I was like to give offense⁷.

    Something there is that doesn't love a wall，

    That wants it down.'  I could say 'Elves' to him，

    But it's not elves exactly， and I'd rather

    He said it for himself.  I see him there

    Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top

    In each hand， like an old-stone savage⁸ armed.

    He moves in darkness as it seems to me，

    Not of woods only and the shade of trees.

    He will not go behind his father's saying，

    And he likes having thought of it so well

    He says again， 'Good fences make good neighbors.'