Painting by Brueghel the Elder‘A Winter Snow’ by Phil S. Rogers The Society February 6, 2022 Beauty, Poetry, Rhupunt 3 Comments . A Winter Snow a rhupunt The white snow falls in swirling walls that so enthralls as in my youth. The wind is slight; flakes from great height a blissful sight— whole life to sleuth. Each crystal flake a snowman make down by the lake— old thoughts that soothe. Years long ago the soft white snow was without woe, no speck of ruth. The frozen snow, the earth below, leaves me aglow— the simple truth. . . Phil S. Rogers is a sixth generation Vermonter, age 72, now retired, and living in Texas. He served in the United States Air Force and had a career in real estate and banking. He previously published Everlasting Glory, a historical work that tells the story of each of the men from Vermont that was awarded the Congressional Medal Of Honor during the Civil War. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. 3 Responses jd February 6, 2022 Enjoyed, Mr. Rogers. Also intrigued by a Vermonter’s moving to Texas. I did wonder if you meant “ruth” or perhaps rues in line 16 – either a computer glitch or my ignorance. Oops, just noticed something in the line above that. “Were” is probably referring to the years in the same stanza but to me as written, it seems to modify the snow. Maybe parentheses in the snow line would clarify (at least for me). Reply Joseph S. Salemi February 6, 2022 The old word “ruth” means “pity” ( compare our adjective “ruthless”), so the line “No speck of ruth” seems to suggest that the snow was indifferent to pain (“without woe”) and also pitiless. But there is a verbal agreement problem in that fourth quatrain, and the meaning is unclear. Reply jd February 6, 2022 Thank you for the lesson learned, Mr. Salemi. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
jd February 6, 2022 Enjoyed, Mr. Rogers. Also intrigued by a Vermonter’s moving to Texas. I did wonder if you meant “ruth” or perhaps rues in line 16 – either a computer glitch or my ignorance. Oops, just noticed something in the line above that. “Were” is probably referring to the years in the same stanza but to me as written, it seems to modify the snow. Maybe parentheses in the snow line would clarify (at least for me). Reply
Joseph S. Salemi February 6, 2022 The old word “ruth” means “pity” ( compare our adjective “ruthless”), so the line “No speck of ruth” seems to suggest that the snow was indifferent to pain (“without woe”) and also pitiless. But there is a verbal agreement problem in that fourth quatrain, and the meaning is unclear. Reply
