"He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
This is a poem that many know. Whether learned in school, or loved because you appreciate Robert Frost's poetry, it captures the reader's senses with its questions about place and ownership. P. J. Lynch opens with front endpapers that are dim and snow-covered. A rider sets off down the street at dusk or later. The soft yellow lighting comes only from house windows and outdoor lights that provide some illumination in the darkness. The back endpapers bring the night to an end as the sun rises.
Approaching the woods, the young rider thinks she knows who owns them. However, if she is right, he lives in the village. As snow flies all around her, she dismounts and brings her horse to a stop between the woods and the lake. It is a dark night, lit only by the moon. The horse is uneasy, while its rider seems quite content to bask in the quiet of the dark winter night. Soon, they are on their way again with miles yet to go.
The stunning gouache and watercolor artwork perfectly matches the imagery of the text; its dark solitude and frosty surroundings give readers a sense of the peace to be found there. Several of the spreads are wordless, adding to the mysterious purpose for the rider's journey. The changes in perspective add interest and eventually show the sun peeking over the horizon while the rider has a long way to go before giving in to sleep.
It's lovely!
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