Poems about snow capture the enchanting beauty and transformative nature of winter. They celebrate the magic and serenity of snowfall, describing landscapes adorned in glistening crystals.
These poems may convey the joy of building snowmen and the coziness of fireside gatherings. However, they can also explore the harsh realities of snow, representing isolation and the unforgiving forces of nature. Snow poems embrace contrasts, symbolizing renewal, purity, and the passage of time.
Emily Dickinson’s ‘It sifts from Leaden Sieves’ explores how snow transforms the landscape, showing its impact on our surroundings.
The poem depicts snow as a marvel crafted by nature—one of its artisans, as it marks the arrival of winter by transforming landscapes, embodying nature's beauty. It employs creative descriptive metaphors to allude to snow, such as it fills the 'Wrinkles of the Road' and descends from 'leaden sieves' and evens the face and forehead of mountains; eventually, it reaches fences, wraps railings 'Rail by Rail,' and covers acres where harvests once thrived. Lines like 'It Ruffles Wrists of Posts / As Ankles of a Queen' emphasize the natural phenomena, i.e., snow's delicate, sublime, and serene beauty.
‘The Snow is Melting’ is a playful and moving haiku that captures the essence of Issa’s poetic beliefs and values.
Snow in this haiku is both literal and symbolic - a covering that melts away to reveal hidden life. Its departure signals a transition, both climatic and emotional. Issa treats the snow’s retreat as a blessing rather than a loss. The melting snow not only signifies the literal end of a season, but the symbolic ending of a period of life.
‘London Snow’ by Robert Bridges describes an early morning snowfall in London and the reactions of those who walk within it.
Snow is the heart of this poem, changing the way London looks and feels. It arrives quietly in the night, covering everything in a soft, white layer. The snow creates a peaceful atmosphere, silencing the usual noise of the city. It also brings joy to children, amazement to adults, and a rare moment of calm before life returns to normal.
When men were all asleep the snow came flying,
In large white flakes falling on the city brown,
Stealthily and perpetually settling and loosely lying,
Bishop’s poem, ‘First Death in Nova Scotia’, is the detailed description of a child’s first encounter with death and the emotions this discovery causes.
Snow serves as both a literal and symbolic backdrop. It amplifies the stillness and coldness of death while also reflecting the child’s innocence. The snow-covered roads metaphorically represent the finality of Arthur’s journey and the unbridgeable divide between life and death.
‘Snowfall in the Afternoon’ by Robert Bly is an interesting and multilayered poem. It uses natural imagery to describe a particular view of the world.
Snow is a central element in the poem, covering everything and changing the look of the land. The snow makes familiar objects look different and creates a mysterious atmosphere. It adds a sense of quiet and calm to the poem. The way snow transforms the landscape shows its power and beauty. Snow is both enchanting and isolating.
The grass is half-covered with snow.
It was the sort of snowfall that starts in late afternoon
And now the little houses of the grass are growing dark.
Shelley’s ‘The cold earth slept below’ paints a freezing winter night where the speaker discovers his beloved’s cold body.
The poem explores the topic of snow through its depiction of a frozen, desolate landscape covered in white. Snow blankets the earth, symbolizing purity and the passage of time. It reflects the poem's theme of coldness and isolation, enhancing the melancholic atmosphere. The imagery of fields of snow and caves of ice underscores nature's stark beauty and its harsh, indifferent presence.
Kilmer’s ‘Trees’ marvels at nature’s beauty, declaring trees as divine art surpassing human creation, in simple yet profound couplets.
Snow in ‘Trees’ symbolizes peace and purity, as Kilmer describes how it ‘has lain’ upon the tree’s bosom. This gentle imagery conveys the harmony between nature and the seasons. Snow becomes a metaphor for the quiet beauty and resilience of life, reinforcing the tree’s role as a symbol of grace and endurance.
‘The first soft snow!’ by Matsuo Bashō is a beautiful haiku about the first “soft snow” that fell upon a flower.
Snow is portrayed as a delicate and important element in the poem. The softness of the snowflakes bending the leaves of the jonquil reflects its gentle, yet notable, impact on the natural world. Snow, in this poem, symbolizes the overwhelming power of nature to change the overall landscape.
‘Dust of Snow’ by Robert Frost is a simple tale of how a speaker’s mood was changed by a snowfall. A love of nature is enough to elevate the speaker into a happier state of mind.
Snow is at the center of the poem, both physically and emotionally. It is not just part of the setting but is the actual trigger that causes the speaker’s shift in mood. When the snow falls on the speaker, it brings a change that feels calming and unexpected. The snow represents something pure, cold, and quiet, and it manages to interrupt the speaker’s negative thoughts. This makes snow more than just weather—it becomes an important turning point.
‘The snow of yesterday’ by Gozan is a beautiful and meaningful haiku about transformation and nature. It uses the image of snow transforming into water.
The poem's central metaphor revolves around the transformative nature of snow. The snowfall, which resembles cherry blossoms, undergoes a complete transformation, melting and becoming water once again. This transformation serves as a metaphor for broader themes of change and transformation in life.
‘Snow Blanket’ is the perfect poem for the winter season that should remind everyone of the importance of giving freely and living joyfully.
The poem presents snow as more than just weather. It is a powerful image that shapes the tone and message. Described as peaceful and pure, the snowfall quietly transforms the world and becomes a symbol of emotional calm and unity. The speaker observes the way each snowflake is unique yet eventually joins others, creating a shared layer that covers everything. Snow becomes the central element that supports the poem’s call for reflection and gentle renewal.
‘The North Wind Doth Blow,’ also sometimes known as ‘The Robin,’ is a short English nursery rhyme that may date as far back as 16th century England.
The poem mentions snow as part of the winter season that the robin must survive. Snow represents the cold and difficult conditions that animals face when the weather changes. The image of the robin struggling to stay warm reminds readers how even small creatures must find ways to endure the snow and other elements during the winter months.
‘The Imaginary Iceberg’ plays with notions of reality, fantasy, and beauty by describing the grandeur of the titular iceberg.
Snow appears as a delicate surface image, lying on water without dissolving — an image of fragile endurance. It connects to the iceberg’s frozen solidity, reinforcing themes of stillness and impermanence. Snow becomes part of the poem’s broader meditation on surfaces versus hidden depths.
‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ or ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’ describes the speaker’s encounter with St. Nicholas on Christmas Eve.
The snow and overall winter landscape is an integral part of this poem's setting. The poet decided to include these elements in order to make the poem feel more real and create clearer images in reader's minds.
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Robert Frost penned this poem, ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ in 1922, subsequently published with his long poem, ‘New Hampshire.’
The snow in the poem serves as a metaphor for the unknown and mysterious aspects of life, while also adding a sense of beauty and stillness to the scene.
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