The unnamed, ungendered narrator of the poem spends time alone outside in the snow. They harbor a sorrowful, negative mood, feeling regretful about how their day has unfolded. Despite this initial gloom, they remain physically present and receptive to the natural world around them.

A wild black bird resting in a snow-covered hemlock tree. By simply moving or shaking its feathers, the bird knocks a light dusting of snow down onto the speaker below. Though typically associated with dark omens or death in literature, the bird acts as an inadvertent healer in this brief moment.