NCERT · Class 10 · English · Poetry: Dust of SnowDescribe the poet's state of mind before and after the crow shook down the dust of snow.

Before the crow shook down the dust of snow, the poet Robert Frost was experiencing a deeply gloomy, sorrowful, and depressed state of mind. He felt utterly hopeless and believed that his entire day was ruined and wasted in regret and sadness, as highlighted by his use of the phrase 'rued'. He was walking aimlessly, consumed by his internal dark thoughts while standing beneath a hemlock tree. However, after the crow unexpectedly shook down the fine particles of snow onto him, his state of mind underwent a complete transformation. The cold, gentle touch of the snow startled him out of his depressive trance, replacing his sorrow with a sense of joy, gratitude, and mental clarity. He realized that the day was not entirely lost, and he decided to cherish and utilize the remaining part of his day with renewed optimism.