I have always liked this poem immensely.
But I have always thought that people read too damn much into simple things. As another poster said, his English class was taught it was about suicide. Good Lord, is there any snippet of literature of any kind that an English teacher will insist has layers of deeper meaning, usually involving death or sex?
To quote Freud...”Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”
I have always taken this to mean exactly what it says. When he says “...miles to go before I sleep...” I don’t get the impression of suicide or death.
I get the impression of a man, either on a horse or being drawn in a small carriage dressed in heavy clothes and peacoat. It is the Winter Solstice, heading out of his small town to some other destination, possibly to visit distant relatives for Christmas. I imagine he has only left town recently, and has left the warmth of a house and fireplace. His journey is going to be long, and he knows that the comfort and warmth he still retains will eventually disappear as his journey progresses. As he thinks about the long journey, he thinks about the end of the journey, where a warm bed with quilts, a fireplace and the comfort of a safe roof over his head awaits.
But, that is going to be a long way off.
Nevertheless, while he still retains that comfort, he can stop, look out at the woods where he is heading and appreciate the silence, serenity and beauty that only the woods at night in a light snowfall can possess, and only be fully appreciated by those who do not yet feel the full bite of the elements.
That’s all.
But then, I am a glass-half-full guy...:)
If he doesn't, he's removed half of the reasons to study literature in the first place.
I like your interpretation.