The Snow Man

So Mrs. White, as I was about to post my Thanksgiving poem to get it out of the way, I was looking at my previous blogs and I think I skipped a week! :( I used my pass on the 7th and then I didn't post another blog until the 21st. I'm really sorry; I don't know how I managed to skip a whole week, but I'll make it up right now!

The Snow Man

I found this poem to be slightly eerie, but at the same time, very peaceful. I read it twice in my head and once aloud, and by the third time I read it, I had a very vivid image of a calm, snowy day. I found the first sentence ironically funny, since it talks about someone having a mind of winter...snow man's "minds" are made out of snow...har har har. :)

Aside from the joking, I do think that this poem was meant to be more relaxing and thoughtful rather than funny or witty. Wallace Stevens uses a lot of imagery to put a mental image in the reader's mind of the trees forming icesicles and of a blurry January sun. I think Stevens incorporates many senses in his writing, especially sight and sound. When he mentions the wind, I can just hear it in the distance on a cool, calm December evening.

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

I feel like this poem is a person refelcting on themselves. Or maybe not neccesarily reflecting, but rather, just thinking. Here in Colorado, I love staying outside when it's quietly snowing; it's a very meditative and calming feeling. I don't know, I don't this poem really has a hidden meaning, but it's more about the sensory images. I can really picture myself in this poem. It's just a nice curl-up-with-a-cup-of-hot-chocolate kind of poem. :)