“Fire and Ice” is a short poem by Robert Frost that discusses the end of the world, likening the elemental force of fire with the emotion of desire, and ice with hate. It was first published in December 1920 in Harper’s Magazine and was later published in Frost’s 1923 Pulitzer Prize-winning book New Hampshire.
Fire and Ice Poem by Robert Frost
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Poems / Robert Frost
- The Road Not Taken
Robert Frost, 1916 - Fire and Ice
Robert Frost, 1920 - Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Robert Frost, 1923 - Acquainted with the Night
Robert Frost, 1928 - Birches
Robert Frost, 1915 - Mending Wall
Robert Frost, 1914 - The Gift Outright
Robert Frost - Nothing Gold Can Stay
Robert Frost, 1923 - Choose Something Like a Star
Robert Frost, 1947 - A Question
Robert Frost - The Oven Bird
Robert Frost - After Apple-Picking
Robert Frost, 1914 - Home Burial
Robert Frost, 1914 - Out, Out—
Robert Frost, 1916 - The runaway
Robert Frost, 1923