There's a certain slant of light

There's a certain slant of light,

On winter afternoons,

That oppresses, like the weight

Of cathedral tunes.

Heavenly hurt it gives us;

We can find no scar,

But internal difference

Where the meanings are.

None may teach it anything,

'Tis the seal, despair,

-An imperial affliction

Sent us of the air.

When it comes, the landscape listens,

Shadows hold their breath;

When it goes, 'tis like the distance

On the look of death.

~Emily Dickinson

At first glance this seemingly depressing peom by Dickinson manages to capture that feeling in all of us that comes to the surface once in a while. Some call it cabin fever, others SAD. Paul and I were on one of our winter drives which we take often. I do get cabin fever and need a change in scenery from time to time. My cabin fever is not however restricted to winter. I believe in getting out of the house. Besides what could be better than arriving back to your beautiful home all refreshed and inspired? The sun was shining so beautifully on the snow this day creating a spectactular sight. That's one of the things I love about late winter. In early winter the sky is usually grey and the landscape shadowless and without expression. This picture is taken from a hill that looks over Lake Ontario just outside Castleton. The day started sunny but by the time we got home, the clouds had taken over the sky and the snow was again without shadows. Spring is just around the corner and Dickinson's poem reminds us of the coming death of winter through the heat of the sun shining on the snow.