I don’t live in a cold climate, and with our lows in the early 30’s last week, I was grateful for sweaters and scarves and hats. I don’t love cold, but I love photos of snow and ice. Amanda Potts lives in Ottawa, Canada. She walks every day (making me feel like a wimp when I don’t want to walk in the cold). She posts wonderful photos on Instagram. Most of her photos are close up. This one was so close that you can make out little ice sculptures in the branches. There’s a whole fairy tale world right there in the photo.
On the Merriam-Webster website, there is a quiz about words for snow and ice. I failed miserably. Perhaps if you want to challenge your knowledge, as well as gather words for your poem, take a chance: Words for Snow and Ice Quiz.
Join me in writing a small poem. Leave it in the comments. Be sure to support other writers with encouraging words.
Glimmer*
Ice birds
peck at thorns
finding the silver lining.*ice newly formed in cracks, holes, or surface puddles of other ice
Margaret Simon, draft
Reflections on the Teche 
the bird sigh there is hope, a man who wants to help the environment, joe is his name, being a man, he had birds on the brain, smile, well, birds are very ordinary in there needs,clean environment is there greatest need, amen
There is hope! Yes, it feels good!
he is not going to chase wealth, he is a family man, he believes in the Most High God, it’s a good beginning, thanks for the comments, stay safe, amen
Amen. Your words of hope, birds, needs, clean environment, Joe, smile…speak to me because I believe Joe will bring our country out of darkness, into light.
He quotes Saint Augustine, and made his vows to God Most High, as well, keep to the path, and the helper comes, amen. America has been a refuge for many, as Europe is today, people need to be reminded of what they got right’ I think it’s the pace of life that ought to be re configured, people are generally good, only one apostle betrayed Jesus, the others stayed the path, never give up, whatever, amen
What a beautiful word, glimmer. I need to tuck that away for a future olw.
winter seeds growing
crystal by crystal, there see?
ice budding in trees
Lovely perspective and words (seeds, crystal, budding). And the tucking in of “there see?” invites me to look with you.
Love the use of seeds and budding. You invited me to think of spring!
Linda, I noticed the buds and I’m glad you worked it into your poem! Makes me wonder what kind of tree it is. I love your invitation of “there see?” Your choice and arrangement of words are beautiful! I can’t decide which I like best.
Linda, I like the idea of winter seeds growing -ice budding is a good image.
Thanks, Margaret. I now know more words for snow and ice! Do you know the book Names for Snow by Judi K. Beach? It’s an older picture book but beautifully lyrical, inspired by the Inuit language for snow. Might be out of print now.
Here’s my poem:
crystals cling
to pointy beaks
one drip
changes everything
Rose, beautiful images! The photo does look like there’s a beak. Glad you used beak. Love the sound of alliteration in “crystals cling.”
Rose, I love “one drip changes everything.” It’s so true.
Rose, I love that you included ‘one drip changes everything.” It’s so true.
What a nice surprise at the end!
One drip can change everything in this ice sculpture but the figurative use is also intriguing.
Rose, the lines “one drip changes everything” resonates with me.
Margaret, what a beautiful photo and poem. I love pics of snow and ice, too. Even though I love where it’s cold I learned some new words on the fun quiz. Your poem made me smile. Love how your “ice birds” find “the silver lining.” Thank you for sharing. I wrote two poems from Amanda’s photo. I found “fairy” on your post. Here’s the better poem:
ice fairy’s
crystal wings
diamonds
Love the word choice of diamonds!
Thank you, Margaret.
Yes, that works quite well, Gail. I see your ice fairy and her tiny crystal wings.
Thank you, Carol. I’m happy you can see her.
Margaret, I circled back to add a short poem to the gorgeous photo Amanda took. Your imagination found the right words for this photo and I can even see the iced bird that you mentioned.
Jack Saw
sugar on snow
winter’s delicacy-
iced creation
©CV, 2021
Oops- title of my poem is Jack Wax (Jack wax goes by a number of names, the most common of which is sugar on snow.)
Carol, I resonate with your poem because I remember trying to make jack wax as a child. I see and taste your imagery. Great word choices. Love delicacy-iced creation.