WHEN Icicles HANG
When icicles hang by the wall,
And Dick the shepherd blows his nail,
And Tom bears logs into the hall,
And milk comes frozen home in pail,
When blood is nipp'd, and ways be foul,
Then nightly sings the staring owl:-
To-whit! To-who!
A merry note,
While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Summary: 'When Icicles Hang' is a Poem by William Shakespeare that paints a vivid picture of a cold winter's night in the countryside. The poem describes a scene where icicles hang from the walls, the shepherd named Dick is trying to warm his hands by blowing on his nails, Tom is carrying logs into the hall to keep the fire burning, and even the milk has frozen in the pail. The poem captures the harshness and discomfort of winter, with blood being nipped by the cold and muddy roads. In this wintry setting, the poem notes the eerie and haunting calls of the staring owl with its repeated 'To-whit! To-who!' cry. Amidst this cold and discomfort, the poem finds a touch of merriment as 'greasy Joan' tends to her cooking pot. Overall, 'When Icicles Hang' creates a vivid snapshot of winter's chill and the contrasting moments of everyday life that continue despite the harsh conditions.
