'Mending Wall' on first reading is a very simplistic poem about the annual repairing of a wall but after closer reading we can see it has a darker meaning.

The poem begins with a disjointed sentence, which immediately attracts the reader's eye.

'Something there is that doesn't love a wall,'

The use of the word 'Something' arouses the reader's curious nature to read on to find out what this 'Something' is. The tone of this is casual and unimposing. The author proceeds in a conversational tone speaking of the reasons to explain the breaking down of the wall. The reasons given are all quite practical but yet through these reasons we get a glimpse of the message, which the author desperately wants us to find.

'And make gaps even two can pass abreast.'

Even though the poem is about division and separation we have a theme of unity in this line creeping through.

The speaker expresses an awe of nature and a deep-rooted respect this is displayed in the way he talks about the breaking of the wall by nature.

'That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it

And spills the upper boulders in the sun,'

'My words are nearly always an offence.'

He feels that they have just reached a turning point and yet she still runs away.

The author has a playful nature and through the poem it is displayed,

She let him look, sure that he wouldn't see,

There is never any direct speech between the two men but yet through the speaker we learn about what the other man thinks about the wall.

Finally she has truly expressed her feelings on everything. They are mixed and confused and bitter but at least she said exactly what was on her mind.

She sums up what she thinks by saying he is emotionally numb. The hatred for her husband has erupted because she saw him dig the child's grave.

Unlike other folks as your standing there'

Some common words found in the essay are:
, I'm Unlike, 'mending wall', child's death, 'home burial', blind creature', breaking wall, feels disgusted, mourn loss, lashes husband, poem begins,
Approximate Word count = 2002
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)