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.

I have read many of Robert Frost's poems but until now I had not read this one. I liked the fact that it was simple and yet powerfully descriptive. The lines about shaking down "the dust of snow" from a tree gives me a very distinct image of a fine powdery mist descending through the air. This poem is a good example of the simple ABAB rhyming scheme. Depending on the amount of poetry students had previously been exposed to they may be able to identify the rhyming scheme on there own or if the structures are what they are learning it is a good example of this particular structure. This poem is also a good example of cause and effect. Students could identify the example of cause and effect found in the poem and also discuss what cause and effect means more broadly.

Dust of Snow is a brief, yet meaningful poem written by Robert Frost. The author’s choice of diction sets a sad, yet hopeful tone for the reader. Ironically, Frost introduces a crow – a bird commonly representing death – as the driving force that changes his mood and lightens his heart. I originally was not excited about this poem until doing further research and rereading the poem several times to interpret its meaning. ( )