Dust of Snow
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.
— Robert Frost, New Hampshire (1923),
also included in Collected Poems (1969)
Hi Friends —
April 29 was Poem in Your Pocket Day, and I had intentions of sending y’all a batch of pocket poems on the 28th so you could print and hand them out on 29th. But, here’s the thing: no one really knows, nor does it particularly matter, which day is actually Poem in Your Pocket Day. So I see no problem whatsoever with handing out pocket poems on the 30th. “Dust of Snow” is, in my opinion, a perfect poem for handing out to random strangers on the street outside the subway exit — which is where you’ll find me tomorrow morning before work. If you are so inspired or inclined, please feel free to make any day Poem in Your Pocket Day — for yourself, for others. More pocket-sized poems from this and past years’ poem-a-day series in print-your-own-at-home PDF format here.
I am also very excited about a project Citizen Hope is doing in San Francisco tomorrow — organizing volunteers to read poems to elementary school students in San Francisco. Check it out here.
“Dust of Snow” by Robert Frost was also featured for Poem-a-Day April 16, 2007.
Poet Robert Frost was also featured for Poem-a-Day April 30, 2008.