Contrast means to look at why an event or action happened.

to look at how two or more things are different.

to look at the result of an action or an event.

Incident

We tell the story every year—

how we peered from the windows, shades drawn—

though nothing really happened,

the charred grass now green again.

We peered from the windows, shades drawn,

at the cross trussed1 like a Christmas tree,

the charred grass still green. Then

we darkened our rooms, lit the hurricane lamps.

At the cross trussed like a Christmas tree,

a few men gathered, white as angels in their gowns.

We darkened our rooms and lit hurricane lamps,

the wicks2 trembling in their fonts of oil.

It seemed the angels had gathered, white men in their gowns.

When they were done, they left quietly. No one came.

The wicks trembled all night in their fonts of oil;

by morning the flames had all dimmed.

When they were done, the men left quietly. No one came.

Nothing really happened.

By morning all the flames had dimmed.

We tell the story every year.

Explanation: