Monday, December 27, 2010

The Snow-Storm

The Snow-Storm

Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow, and, driving o'er the fields,
Seems nowhere to alight: the whited air
Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven,


And veils the farm-house at the garden's end.
The sled and traveler stopped, the courier's feet
Delayed, all friends shut out, the housemates sit
Around the radiant fireplace, enclosed
In a tumultuous privacy of storm.



Come see the north wind's masonry.
Out of an unseen quarry evermore
Furnished with tile, the fierce artificer
Curves his white bastions with projected roof
Round every windward stake, or tree, or door.




Speeding, the myriad-handed, his wild work
So fanciful, so savage, nought cares he
For number or proportion. Mockingly,
On coop or kennel he hangs Parian wreaths;
A swan-like form invests the hidden thorn;
Fills up the farmer's lane from wall to wall,




Maugre the farmer's sighs; and at the gate
A tapering turret overtops the work.
And when his hours are numbered, and the world
Is all his own, retiring, as he were not,
Leaves, when the sun appears, astonished Art
To mimic in slow structures, stone by stone,
Built in an age, the mad wind's night-work,
The frolic architecture of the snow.

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Visited my parents, spending a few days prior to and after Christmas. This is the snow they received in Clear Lake (extreme north central), Iowa. (A good 12 inches)

Happy Winter Y'all! :-)
SG

12 comments:

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Look at all that snow! I love that poem!

Randy Emmitt said...

Shady you got a lot more than we did! Hope you stay warm and safe as it all melts.

Anonymous said...

Hi Shady, It looks like winter has come to your place. Brrr... stay warm.

joco said...

Call that snow?
I measly foot :-)?
Ours is melted now but leaves such gunk behind.
I like seeing the Pasque flower in your sidebar. So ready for some colour now.

Darla said...

Good gravy! Drink something warm.

troutbirder said...

And there is more coming our way and your next... rain maybe though. There was no snow in Greeley but a good time was had being with those grandchildren

Gail said...

Happy New Year Shady, I am so glad we had a bit of snow for the holidays (it's gone now) and not this great big winter event that hit the rest of the US! The poem is perfect~xxoogail

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Sue, I always hear from our daughter in Omaha. It does sound as though you're receiving snow soon...

Hi Randy, Are you skating on your pond, yet? :-)

Grace, Absolutely. And I'm ready for it! Actually, as soon as we end our traveling, it will be nice to be home and do the Winter-planning-for-Spring activities!

Oh, Jo, I understand your point of view perfectly!! YOU have received the lion's share of the snow there! Glad it's melted... at least you can get to the store now.

Hi Darla, tea and chai tea are my favorite hot drinks!

troutbirder, Yes. We've heard about some of that. Hopefully the snow that accumulates while we're in Michigan will be off the roads as we travel home!

Gail, Hi there! I'm glad you experienced snow for Christmas... I cannot imagine being without. Happy 2011! :-)

Sandra said...

Too much snow!! We're having a thaw today in Michigan, but only for about 2 days. Thank you for your visits recently to my blogs - I wasn't getting notices about comment moderation so I just discovered them today and changed those settings again.

Annie said...

I know it is probably a hassle having all that snow. But it is a wonderful sight to someone from an area that rarely gets any! Your pictures are beautiful!
Annie

Rosemary said...

It is beautiful .........from inside..Happy New Year!

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Sande, We've been in Michigan the past few days and have enjoying our visit with family. We received a dusting of snow today, but hope the weather holds for travel home tomorrow.

Annie, It's only a hassle if it's on the road and slows traffic (or gets icy). Happy 2011!

Rosemary, I agree totally! :-)