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View Full Version : M, The Snowman by Wallace Stevens


John Cole
12-18-2003, 11:23 PM
Okay, guys, try a bit of explication.


The Snowman

One must have a mind of winter
To regard the frost and the boughs
Of the pine-trees crusted with snow;

And have been cold a long time
To behold the junipers shagged with ice,
The spruces rough in the distant glitter

Of the January sun; and not to think
Of any misery in the sound of the wind,
In the sound of a few leaves,

Which is the sound of the land
Full of the same wind
That is blowing in the same bare place

For the listener, who listens in the snow,
And, nothing himself, beholds
Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is.

MMMMMM
12-22-2003, 01:39 PM
John,

It is an interesting poem and I suspect it contains more than appears at first glance. The last two stanzas and especially the last stanza are quite a lot. The flow, sound and cadences of the entire poem are unusual and quite fitting. I will reserve further commentary for later (after I've delved into it a bit more;-)) Thanks for posting it and Happy Holidays.

scalf
12-22-2003, 01:57 PM
/images/graemlins/grin.gif..the unbelievable lightness of being...

happy holidays /images/graemlins/smirk.gif /images/graemlins/cool.gif /images/graemlins/diamond.gif