DUST OF SNOW

DUST OF SNOW

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

Thinking about the poem

1. What is a "dust of snow"? What does the poet  say has changed his mood? How has the poet's mood changed? 

Answer : A 'dust of snow is very fine particles of snow. The 'dust of snow' changed the poet's mood. The poet was feeling remorseful but the little dust of snow changed his mood and saved his day.

2. How does Frost present nature in this poem? The following questions may help you to think of an answer. 

 (i) What are the birds that are usually named in poems? Do you think a crow is often mentioned in poems? What images come to your mind when you think of a crow? 

Answer : Generally, birds usually named in poems are parrots, pigeons, dove, nightingale, peacock , swans etc. No, crow is not 

 mentioned in poems. When we think of a crow a very dark image with harsh voice comes in our mind . Basically it brings depressing and sorrowful pictures in our mind. 

(ii) Again, what is "a hemlock tree"? Why doesn't the poet write about a more 'beautiful' tree such as a maple, or an oak, or a pine? 

Answer : A hemlock tree is a poisonous 

tree with small white flowers. The poet didn't write about a more beautiful tree such as maple, oak or a pine because these trees symbolise happiness and beauty . Frost wanted to symbolise the feeling of sadness and remorse that is why he chose to write hemlock tree. 

(iii) What do the 'crow' and 'hemlock' represent - joy or sorrow? What does the dust of snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree stand for? of snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree stand for? 

Answer : Both the crow and hemlock tree represent sorrow. The dust of snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree stands for passing of sorrows and miseries and represent happiness and joy that the poet experiences. 

3. Have there been times when you felt depressed or hopeless? Have you ever experienced a similar moment that changed your mood that day? 

Answer : Yes there have been innumerable times when I felt sad, depressed and hopeless. On one occasion, I returned upset from school. I went to the park and saw an old man playing hide and seek with small kids. Seeing this changed my mood completely . I also joined them and had fun. 

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