How can you name the scent of snow or the gentle kiss of frost?
How can you set the sounds of dusk to music when it tastes of tears?
How can you tell the difference between a stolen kiss and a rain in June?
How can this silent winter cold make thunder in an absent tense?
For the listener, who listens in the snow,
And, nothing himself, beholds
Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is
Wallace Stevens
Edvard Munch
Laura hosts at dVerse on paradox. One choice is to write using the last line of Wallace Stevens’ “The snow man”, and my idea was to write questions matching his answer. Which was my way of going beyond the meaning or resolution of opposites.
For me personally the quote invokes the memory of putting up your tent in snow away from the wind, and the realizing how silent the silence really can be.
February 23, 2021
.
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Very haunting!
Lovely and lyrical and the final question packs the punch of paradox
Quite splendid.
‘Snow Falling in the Lane’ by Munch conveys the scent (and silence) of snow and the ‘gentle kiss of frost’ perfectly, Björn, as does your poem. I love how you took the line by Wallace Stevens (I chose that option too) and matched his answer with questions, a great way to explore paradox.
I love that photo and how you interpreted Wallace’s last line. Your questions speak to the emptiness and the fullness of its paradox.
I think you’ve expertly captured the mood of the Stevens poem here Bjorn. I love your last line: ‘How can this silent winter cold make thunder in an absent tense?’
Gorgeous Bjorn!
This is exquisitely drawn, Bjorn! I especially love; “How can you set the sounds of dusk to music when it tastes of tears?” Woww! 💝💝
Reverberating paradoxes — the stuff of which our experience consists!
I’m not quite sure I’ve wrapped my head around that last line, but I keep muttering it to myself.
I especially love these words:
“How can you set the sounds of dusk to music when it tastes of tears?”
And oh yes….I’ve heard winter snow thunder here in Boston. SO unusual!
entwined with the senses almost them tangible … I’ve only heard true silence hundreds of metres underground in a cave
I especially liked that 2nd line.. well done!
Pat
Excellent Bjorn, carries beautiful Laura’s prompt.
Very nicely done Bjorn!
Unbelievably lovely, Björn. I got goosebumps from this line.
-David
I’m particularly fond of the opening.
You make silent so loud with that last line.. The thoughts in Wallace Stevens’ words exactly.
Beautifully done, Bjorn. I love that second one.