Poetry Precis #16: “Driving to Town Late to Mail a Letter”

Robert Bly’s “Driving to Town Late to Mail a Letter” gives off a content tone with its use of diction and alliteration to associate the poem with the feeling of internal pleasure in spending time alone. The poem contains words that seem to have a negative connotation, like “cold,” “deserted,” and “iron.” Although these words can be associated with loneliness and despair, the speaker appreciates these aspects and shows how a dark, cold night could be quite enjoyable. The alliteration used in the second line, “swirls of snow,” add to this picturesque image of a snowy night by creating a soft, flowing sound to the ear, showing the beauty, calmness and serenity of being alone in nature. In the last line, the speaker says that he “will waste more time” driving around in the snowy night, meaning that he is actually taking some time for himself, to drive around and enjoy his surroundings. Bly’s use of diction and alliteration help aid in the feeling of complete satisfaction in taking in the quiet beauty of nature all by oneself.  


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