Dust of Snow -- Robert Frost
The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree Has given my heart A change of mood And saved some part Of a day I had rued
Robert Frost has always been known for his metaphors, and I believe that this one speaks to how people get so caught up wasting their time with anger that they forget that life is short. This realization can help people shake off their negative emotions and enjoy their day with a better perspective on life, especially knowing that death will come eventually.
This is the meaning that I took from his Poem Dust of Snow. The symbolism of a crow is usually a metaphor for death. In this poem, I believe Frost is using the crow to represent how death is inevitable and perhaps even close. The fact that a crow shakes down “the dust of snow” signifies that death is something to be consider; it is trying to get our attention and state its presence. Winter and snow is also a representation of death because it is the season that all growth halts and remains dormant. The metaphor Frost is trying to create is that death may come at any time, and this must be considered when people are living their life. The reason they must consider it is laid out in the second verse.
Frost continues with his poem by saying this shake from death “Has given my heart A change of mood”. To me, this is supposed to say to the readers that by acknowledging death, we can change our perspective on life even when life is frustrating. He goes on to write “And saved some part Of a day I had rued”. This means that our perspective change can be for the best. More often than not, people live a life containing many regrets and grudges. We all have bad days, but sometimes it it important to shake off that negative attitude and realize that life is very short. It is not meant to be spent wasting time by rueing the day. Instead, we must understand that death may looming above us any day will encourage to live better days.
