Catherine Chandler's Poetry Blog

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Winter as a Face . . . As near as memory . . .



The Snow that never drifts

The Snow that never drifts --
The transient, fragrant snow
That comes a single time a Year
Is softly driving now --

So thorough in the Tree
At night beneath the star
That it was February's Foot
Experience would swear --

Like Winter as a Face
We stern and former knew
Repaired of all but Loneliness
By Nature's Alibit --

Were every storm so spice
The Value could not be --
We buy with contrast -- Pang is good
As near as memory --


-- Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

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