A dark partly inverted umbrella hangs against swirling violet storm clouds.

Original artwork, not a still

Robert Frost

A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

Robert Frost jokes that banks are fair-weather friends. They lend the umbrella when the sky is clear, then demand it back once rain starts. The humour lies in lenders retreating exactly when you need help most.

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