The effigy (symbol)
The speaker is conflicted about whether or not the effigy can truly stand as a symbol of love. The pair’s entwined hands may have seemed an irrelevant detail to them; in fact, it may have been put in by the sculptor without their input. The speaker’s final verdict is ambiguous: is the symbol still valid despite not being fully truthful, or is its power simply ironic and deceptive?
Snow and light (symbol)
Snow and light are both traditionally symbols of purity, and light often carries religious connotations in poetry. In this manner, the snow and light that surround the effigy serve to keep its message pure and bless it over time.
