The Buck in the Snow

White sky, over the hemlocks bowed with snow,
Saw you not at the beginning of evening the antlered buck and his doe
Standing in the apple-orchard? I saw them. I saw them suddenly go,
Tails up, with long leaps lovely and slow,
Over the stone-wall into the wood of hemlocks bowed with snow.

Now lies he here, his wild blood scalding the snow.

How strange a thing is death, bringing to his knees, bringing to his antlers
The buck in the snow.
How strange a thing,—a mile away by now, it may be,
Under the heavy hemlocks that as the moments pass
Shift their loads a little, letting fall a feather of snow—
Life, looking out attentive from the eyes of the doe.
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Hnnhbiie30's picture

"The Buck in the Snow" by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a brief but powerful poem that explores the beauty of nature and the reality of death. It contrasts the elegance of living creatures with the harshness of mortality, reminding readers of the fragility of life. Despite the buck's passing, life continues to thrive around him, emphasizing the cyclical nature of existence. Millay's use of vivid imagery and sensory details transports readers to the scene, allowing them to experience the beauty and tragedy of nature firsthand. This poem is a masterful reflection on life and death, leaving readers with a renewed appreciation for the delicate balance that exists all around us.

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