Kate, that final line of April 5, 1974 is a reference to Frost's "Spring Pools." I agree that Wilbur's line would seem impossibly treacly on its own. He is counting on readers to catch the reference, which is supposed to back off the poem to a safe distance of mild irony. The broader clue of "frost" instead of "freeze" might have helped the save the poem from this peril. If Able Muse had been around in 1974, perhaps someone would have alerted the author before publication. He would never change it now.
I agree with you about "and then." Who would think that two plain little words could do such a subtle thing?
Alan Sullivan
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