In the poem "The Blizzard" by Linda Pastan, lines 28-39 contain a metaphor that compares the blizzard to an overwhelming force that disrupts and affects the speaker's life. This metaphor creates an image of nature's power, illustrating the blizzard as a chaotic and potentially destructive presence.
The words "shaking," "splitting," and "stinging" evoke a mood of turmoil and discomfort. "Shaking" suggests instability and a loss of control, while "splitting" conveys a sense of division or fracturing, both physically and emotionally. "Stinging" implies a painful intensity, enhancing the feeling of vulnerability in the face of the blizzard’s harshness. Together, these connotations contribute to a mood of unease and anxiety, emphasizing the overwhelming impact of the storm on the speaker's experience.