The+First+Snowfall

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**//The First Snowfall//**
//James Russel Lowell//

The author tells a story of when he goes on an outing with his youngest daughter. The day is a snowy day, whence the character is remembering his past. He seems to be disturb and fettered by a death that had once been. It then reveals that the snow is covering a headstone that is buried beneath it. And that the characters are paying a visit to the grave. The grave turns out to be that of the girl's late older sister. Hence, the main character is filled with sorrow.
 * THE SNOW had begun in the gloaming, || ||
 * And busily all the night || ||
 * Had been heaping field and highway || ||
 * With a silence deep and white. || ||
 * Every pine and fir and hemlock || ||
 * Wore ermine too dear for an earl, || ||
 * And the poorest twig on the elm-tree || ||
 * Was ridged inch deep with pearl. || ||
 * From sheds new-roofed with Carrara || ||
 * Came Chanticleer’s muffled crow, || ||
 * The stiff rails softened to swan’s-down, || ||
 * And still fluttered down the snow. || ||
 * I stood and watched by the window || ||
 * The noiseless work of the sky, || ||
 * And the sudden flurries of snow-birds, || ||
 * Like brown leaves whirling by. || ||
 * I thought of a mound in sweet Auburn || ||
 * Where a little headstone stood; || ||
 * How the flakes were folding it gently, || ||
 * As did robins the babes in the wood. || ||
 * Up spoke our own little Mabel, || ||
 * Saying, “Father, who makes it snow?” || ||
 * And I told of the good All-father || ||
 * Who cares for us here below. || ||
 * Again I looked at the snow-fall, || ||
 * And thought of the leaden sky || ||
 * That arched o’er our first great sorrow, || ||
 * When that mound was heaped so high. || ||
 * I remembered the gradual patience || ||
 * That fell from that cloud like snow, || ||
 * Flake by flake, healing and hiding || ||
 * The scar that renewed our woe. || ||
 * And again to the child I whispered, || ||
 * “The snow that husheth all, || ||
 * Darling, the merciful Father || ||
 * Alone can make it fall!” || ||
 * Then, with eyes that saw not, I kissed her; || ||
 * And she, kissing back, could not know || ||
 * That //my// kiss was given to her sister, || ||
 * Folded close under deepening snow. || ||
 * Author's Purpose:**
 * “The snow that husheth all, || ||
 * Darling, the merciful Father || ||
 * Alone can make it fall!” || ||
 * Then, with eyes that saw not, I kissed her; || ||
 * And she, kissing back, could not know || ||
 * That //my// kiss was given to her sister, || ||
 * Folded close under deepening snow. || ||
 * Author's Purpose:**
 * Author's Purpose:**
 * Author's Purpose:**


 * Commentary from an English teacher that did not write the above or the below: The poem does not imply that they are on an outing. It appears to be at home during a snowfall that starts in the evening (gloaming), and Lowell thinks of the snow covering the grave of daughter who is buried not too far away (in Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA) and how the snow covers the scars of the family's sorrow. Then a living daughter, Mabel, asks what causes the snow, and Lowell explains how God makes it snow. It finishes when he kisses Mabel, but unbeknownst to her, the kiss is for the dead sister who is buried "under the deepening snow."** Mabel, by the way is buried next to her father in Mr. Auburn. Likely, the dead sister is to the poet's right--two young children are buried there. **The poem is far better than the anaylsis.**

The author, Lowell, expresses death in a very sorrowful manner. Thus being that a death can never be forgotten, rather only covered up only to be resurrected once again with even more woe. The snow represents his feelings and sentiment. The snow can bury the headstone, but deep inside the grave still lies. Just like a metaphor to the main character's heart, that has tried to forget the tragic loss of his daughter, but gets brought up again with all the agony each time he thinks about it. The falling snow represents the character's tears of sadness. Yet, the beginning of the poem gives a calm, pensive atmosphere, to express that death must happen, however tragic it may be to lose a loved one so dear.
 * Theme:**