Why I love "The Snow-Storm" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem, “The Snow-Storm” published in 1904, diverges the supernatural and the essence of nature in this poem.  One of the most captivating aspects of the text is how Emerson illustrates this sense of numbness, a scene causing one to reflect upon instances throughout hardships of life.

Upon reading, visualizations of a mystic, surrounding wintry wonderland encompassed me. I was enthralled by his diction, especially through his usage of an antithesis in line 16, “So fanciful, so savage, nought…”, creating a strong sense of self, and what seems like, a sense of persistence. One can truly understand what type of man Emerson was, a man who was so passionate so determined and inspired by the world surrounding him. This poem not only portrays the characteristics of Emerson, it shines the light towards the personality of many who face difficult situations.

The diction I was ultimately enthralled by was in line 11. “Out of an unseen quarry evermore,” had my eyes constantly return and re-read the line. The way that this line is worded has a very eloquently way of describing the fact of a pit becoming eternal. This shows that one can stay in stuck in the same situation and never even realize it. This poem describes how people can beautifully destroy their own lives, just like a snow-storm. Snow is beautiful to see, but dangerous and can even harm you.