Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SMOKE IN WINTER, by HENRY DAVID THOREAU Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The sluggish smoke curls up from some deep dell Last Line: As some refulgent cloud in the upper sky Subject(s): Smoke | ||||||||
The sluggish smoke curls up from some deep dell, The stiffened air exploring in the dawn, And making slow acquaintance with the day; Delaying now upon its heavenward course, In wreathed loiterings dallying with itself, With as uncertain purpose and slow deed, As its half-wakened master by the hearth, Whose mind still slumbering and sluggish thoughts Have not yet swept into the onward current Of the new day. And now it streams afar, The while the chopper goes with step direct, And mind intent to swing the early axe. First, in the dusky dawn he sends abroad His early scout, his emissary, smoke, The earliest, latest pilgrim from the roof, To feel the frosty air, inform the day; And while he crouches still beside the hearth, Nor musters courage to unbar the door, It has gone down the glen with the light wind, And o'er the plain unfurled its venturous wreath, Draped the tree tops, loitered upon the hill, And warmed the pinions of the early bird; And now, perchance, high in the crispy air, Has caught sight of the day o'er the earth's edge, And greets its master's eye at his low door, As some refulgent cloud in the upper sky | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WOODSMOKE AT 70 by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE AMERICAN FIREMAN by CHRISTOPHER BANNISTER |
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