Dust of Snow

 

• Summary:
• The speaker, feeling down and burdened, is suddenly lifted out of his despair by the unexpected sight of a crow shaking off a dusting of snow from a tree branch.
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• The crow and the snow both symbolize nature and its power to transform a person's mood or outlook. The act of shaking off the snow represents a small moment of beauty and redemption that can change the speaker's perspective on life.
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• Literary meaning:
• "Dust of Snow" can be read as a meditation on the power of small moments of grace or beauty to break through the monotony or despair of everyday life. It suggests that even in the midst of hardship, one can find moments of clarity and renewal.
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• Theme:
• The theme of the poem is the idea that nature has the power to heal and transform us, even in small ways. It also suggests that we should be open to the beauty around us, as it has the potential to lift us out of our troubles.
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• Literary device:
• Frost employs a metaphor when he describes the crow as "pressing" and "throwing" the dust of snow. This creates a vivid image of the crow's actions and emphasizes the forcefulness of nature's power to transform. He also uses alliteration in the opening line, with the repetition of the "d" sound in "Dust of Snow" creating a sense of heaviness or weight that is contrasted by the lightness of the snow being shaken off.
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• "The way a crow / Shook down on me / The dust of snow": The poem opens with the speaker describing how a crow shaking snow off a tree branch has showered him with a small amount of snow. The phrase "dust of snow" creates an image of something insignificant or small, but it is also suggestive of a sense of freshness or purity. The crow's action is unexpected and interrupts the speaker's routine, prompting him to take notice of his surroundings.
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• "From a hemlock tree": The tree is not just any tree, but a hemlock tree, which can be read as a symbol of death or sorrow. This sets up a contrast between the bleakness of the tree and the sudden lightness of the snow being shaken off by the crow.
• "Has given my heart": The use of the verb "has given" suggests that the speaker has not actively sought out this moment of beauty, but has been gifted it by chance. The reference to the heart emphasizes the emotional impact of the moment.
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• "A change of mood": The phrase "change of mood" is significant because it suggests a deeper transformation than simply feeling momentarily cheered up. The snow has the power to alter the speaker's entire outlook on life.
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• "And saved some part / Of a day I had rued": The poem concludes with the speaker reflecting on the significance of this moment. The use of the verb "saved" emphasizes the idea that the snow has had a redemptive effect. The phrase "a day I had rued" suggests that the speaker has been struggling with negative emotions for some time, but this moment of beauty has given him hope and a new perspective.
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Overall, "Dust of Snow" is a brief but powerful meditation on the capacity of nature to transform us, even in small ways. The contrast between the heavy hemlock tree and the light snow being shaken off by