It sifts from Leaden Sieves —
It powders all the Wood.
It fills with Alabaster Wool
The Wrinkles of the Road —
It makes an Even Face
Of Mountain, and of Plain —
Unbroken Forehead from the East
Unto the East again —
It reaches to the Fence —
It wraps it Rail by Rail
Till it is lost in Fleeces —
It deals Celestial Vail
To Stump, and Stack — and Stem —
A Summer’s empty Room —
Acres of Joints, where Harvests were,
Recordless, but for them–
It Ruffles Wrists of Posts
As Ankles of a Queen —
Then stills its Artisans — like Ghosts —
Denying they have been —
A description of snow. Compare Snowbound by Whittier, third stanza.
UMM there is a deeper meaning than a snowstorm you idiots!
It’s not obvious, but it’s about more than just snow. If you look at it closely, it’s Mother Nature getting married. Or at least, her in her wedding gown.
Stanzas 1 and 2 are about putting on her makeup, hiding any and all blemishes. Stanza 3-5 are about the dress itself, veil and petticoats and everything else one would need.
I don’t think this is showing nature as powerful, so much as beatiful
well I just wanted to say that though it was a little bit difficult to find out what the poem is about but it’s a really deep metaphor that personificates nature and that shows its power
Some of the other interpretations are ludicrous (like this one: “an extended meaphor that personifies the word “it” as a skilled cosmetican and seamtress, who are beautifying an aging woman.”)
In many cases Emily is describing a scene, and in this poem she is describing several settings that are affected by snowfall = “it”
snowflakes are like powder on the trees in the wood…
it smoothes out a bumpy road…
it blankets the jagged edges of a mountain and it blankets the plain…
wraps around each rail on the fence…
wraps around each wrist of posts, looking like white ankle muffs a queen might wear…
of course “it” is snow: this poem is a series of personifications of snow and its effects.
this poem does have a deeper meaning. There is an extended meaphor that personifies the word “it” as a skilled cosmetican and seamtress, who are beautifying an aging woman.
I really don’t understand this poem! i have to write a paper on and i was wondering if anyone had any helpful information.
I love this poem. There isn’t really anyvery deep meaning to it,and what we usually look for in Dickinson’s poetry is a deep meaning. This poem is about a snowstorm.
This poem is hard to understand
i am not sure but from my understanding this poem puts nature as the equalizer of all mankind. nothing can hide from it and it does not differentiate between any man.