Driving to Town Late to Mail a Letter

“Driving to Town Late to Mail a Letter” can be read as a poem about the speaker’s appreciation of the northern landscape, even during inclement weather. As the speaker goes into town to mail their letter, they pay close attention to their surroundings. It is so “cold” (Line 1) and “snowy” (Line 1) that others do not want to be outside, hence the town’s “deserted” (Line 1) street. For most people, the cold temperature, wind, and snow would be unpleasant and they would remain indoors. Yet, for the speaker, “this snowy night” (Line 4) produces a very different emotion. They “love” (Line 4) the “privacy” (Line 4) it offers. The black night, the cold temperature, the implied whiteness of the swirling snow are treasured by the solitary speaker, who has the landscape all to themselves. They take their time to enjoy it, deciding to continue “driving around” (Line 5). The deep sense of appreciation for what might normally be a dismal night creates a paradox of value. The speaker says they will “waste more time” (Line 5). This is ironic since they will be doing something they love, which is never a waste of time.