S5 E3 Woods in Winter by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Reading poetry in the winter offers a unique comfort, as the cold, often bleak environment outside contrasts with the warmth and intimacy found in verse. The act of curling up with a collection of poems allows one to escape into a world of emotion and reflection, where the themes of solitude and introspection resonate deeply during the darker months. The rhythmic flow of words can evoke a sense of nostalgia and peace, making the experience of reading poetry a soothing ritual that provides solace against the chill of winter.
Reading poetry in the winter offers a unique comfort!
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Woods in Winter” captures the serene beauty and reflective quality of nature during the cold months. The poem paints vivid imagery of the stark, bare trees and the quietude of the winter landscape. His use of language evokes a sense of stillness, allowing me to appreciate the subtle nuances of the season. The contrast between the vibrant life of summer and the somber tones of winter serves to highlight the cyclical nature of life and the beauty found within each phase.
Woods in Winter by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
When winter winds are piercing chill,
And through the hawthorn blows the gale,
With solemn feet I tread the hill,
That overbrows the lonely vale.
O'er the bare upland, and away
Through the long reach of desert woods,
The embracing sunbeams chastely play,
And gladden these deep solitudes.
Where, twisted round the barren oak,
The summer vine in beauty clung,
And summer winds the stillness broke,
The crystal icicle is hung.
Where, from their frozen urns, mute springs
Pour out the river's gradual tide,
Shrilly the skater's iron rings,
And voices fill the woodland side.
Alas! how changed from the fair scene,
When birds sang out their mellow lay,
And winds were soft, and woods were green,
And the song ceased not with the day!
But still wild music is abroad,
Pale, desert woods! within your crowd;
And gathering winds, in hoarse accord,
Amid the vocal reeds pipe loud.
Chill airs and wintry winds! my ear
Has grown familiar with your song;
I hear it in the opening year,
I listen, and it cheers me long.
This poem is in the public domain.
Photography and Recitation by Rebecca Budd
Music by Epidemic Sound
Snow in June by Martin Landh
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/s90EMsFAMN/
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