About the Author
Robert Frost was a famous poet from America. He was born on March 26, 1874, and lived until January 29, 1963. He grew up loving farms and nature, and that shows in his poems. Frost wrote simple words about trees, snow, birds, and everyday feelings. He won big prizes like the Pulitzer four times. His poems make us see small things in life as special. "Dust of Snow" is one of his short, sweet poems that feels like a quick hug from nature.
What’s the Poem About?
This is a tiny poem, just eight lines, but it packs a big feeling. It tells about a person who is having a really bad day. Maybe something went wrong at work or home, and his heart feels heavy and sad. He walks under a hemlock tree on a cold winter day. Hemlock is a plain tree, not fancy, and it's covered in snow.
Suddenly, a black crow lands on a branch. The crow shakes its wings, and a little dust of snow falls down right on the person's head. It's like a soft sprinkle, not much, but enough to surprise him. That small shake changes everything! His grumpy mood lifts a bit. The poem says it "saved some part" of the day he was upset about. It's like the crow and snow said, "Hey, cheer up—life isn't all bad."
The poet uses this to show how a tiny moment from nature can fix a sour mood. No big magic, just a bird and some snow. It happens fast, like a quick pick-me-up. Kids, think of it like spilling water on your shirt when you're mad—it might make you laugh instead of cry. The poem ends on a happy note, reminding us that good can pop up anywhere.
Who’s Who in the Poem
- The Crow: A black bird that shakes the snow. It's playful and wild, like a friend who surprises you with fun.
- The Hemlock Tree: A simple, tall tree with needles, not poison like the name sounds. It's quiet and snowy, like a calm spot in the woods.
- The Speaker (The Poet): The person telling the story. He starts sad but ends a little happier. He stands for all of us on off days.
Themes and Moral
The poem shares easy ideas about life:
- Nature Helps Us: Trees and birds can make us feel better without trying. A small touch from outside fixes inside worries.
- Small Things Matter: Not every fix needs to be big. A bit of snow or a bird's shake can turn a bad day around.
- Hope in Hard Times: Even when you're blue, something good can happen fast.
The moral is: Look for tiny joys in nature—they can shake off sadness like dust from a tree. Next bad day, watch for a bird or breeze to lift you up!
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words from the poem. I explain them like chatting over tea, super simple:
- Dust of Snow: Tiny bits of snow that fall like powder, soft and light, not heavy flakes.
- Hemlock Tree: A common tree with green needles, like a pine but plainer. (Don't worry, it's not the yucky poison plant!)
- Shook Down: Shook hard so something falls, like shaking a blanket to drop crumbs.
- Change of Mood: Switching feelings, from mad or sad to okay or glad.
- Rued: Felt sorry about something, like "I wish that didn't happen."
- Saved Some Part: Kept a piece from being lost, like rescuing half a cookie from falling.
These words make the poem feel fresh. Say them out loud or use in a sentence, like "The crow shook down dust of snow on me!" to remember easy.