Historical Context
Edwin Arlington Robinson's (1869-1935) poetry is often viewed as an important transition between the Romantic and Modern eras — it is both a pessimistic portrayal of the tragedies of life and an optimistic view of mankind's courage and spirit.
The tragic element of Robinson's poetry draws on the personal misfortunes he experienced. Robinson was born to a wealthy family, but he had an unhappy childhood and family life. Robinson had one romantic interest, but she married one of his brothers, and their marriage was quite unhappy. All of Robinson's brothers died of alcoholism or drug overdoses, and Robinson also struggled with alcohol addiction.
Robinson attended Harvard from 1891 to 1893, and then moved to New York City, where he chose to devote his life to writing instead of seeking a better-paying job. Help arrived in 1905 when President Theodore Roosevelt became interested in Robinson's poetry. Roosevelt gave Robinson a job in the New York Customs House, where his minimal duties would give him ample time to write. Roosevelt also made sure that Scribner published Robinson's poetry, giving him national recognition for the first time.
After Roosevelt's presidential term was up, Robinson returned to his hometown of Gardiner, Maine, where he stayed, again in poverty, until 1916, when an anonymous benefactor began sending him a monthly stipend. This allowed Robinson to spend his winters in New York City, and his summers in the MacDowell Colony (a haven for artists founded by the widow of the composer Edward MacDowell), until his death in 1935.