THE COPY HE READ TO THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERS FROST, ROBERT. Typescript Signed and Inscribed, "For Reginald Cook," with holograph note and a correction, reading copy of his poem, "How Hard It Is to Keep from Being King When It's in You and in the Situation." At upper edge of first page is the holograph note: "As read at the American Academy," followed by a holograph revision of the title from "Hard Not to Be King" to "Hard to Keep from Being King." Signed at end of text. 13 pages, 4to, written on rectos of separate sheets, stapled together at upper left; faint stain at right edge of last few pages, horizontal fold. Np, [1951]
"The King said to his son: 'Enough of this! The kingdom's yours to finish as you please. I'm getting out tonight. Here. Take the crown.' . . ." Published in 1951, first as "How Hard It Is to Keep from Being King When It's in You and in the Situation," in Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the National Institute of Arts and Letters, then as "Hard Not to Be King" by House of Books in a limited edition of 300. The version that appears in the 1962 collection, In the Clearing, differs in several places, containing alterations to a few words, as well as the addition of a line.
