Snow!
Under the Snow
Under the snow the grass lies smooth and even.
Under the snow the road returns to the land.
Under the snow the bushes sit like stepping stones,
the trees sparkle like rock candy crystals stuck to a string.
Under the snow the picnic table rises like a baking cake,
the chairs with criss-cross bottoms offer waffles to the sky.
Under the snow the barbecue puts on a peaked stocking hat,
the flowerpots huddle like big-bellied gnomes.
Under the snow the swing wears a gleaming smile.
Under the snow our footprints disappear.
We finally got some real snow this week–enough to miss school and go sledding! My favorite thing about snow is the way it completely transforms everything.
The repetition in this poem is an example of anaphora, which was Miss Rumphius’ challenge this week.
For more Poetry Friday, visit Tara at A Teaching Life.
© Elizabeth Steinglass, 2014, all rights reserved
Oh, once again I do love this one. Now….I am wondering what your other poems look like, the ones not here, the ones you may not share. I particularly love the waffles for the sky. I will try an anaphora soon. The kids will so enjoy this. I am subbing two days in a row next week and will show them another from a poet they like so much! Maybe we can arrange a Skype hello some time? This group would love it.
It is so cold here that it is hard to play in the snow very often. When we can, it is always so much fun for the kids. And the chilly adults/teachers who watch them at play and remember.
Thanks Janet. I’ve never done a Skype visit before but maybe we can try it?! (You’ll have to coach me first.)
Wonderful! I have a pb called Under the Snow.
I just looked on amazon. The one with the salamanders? I bet kids would love seeing what was happening with the creatures under the snow.
Love those rock candy crystals and waffles. Lovely images — I also love how snow transforms everything — a magical world coated with frosting. 🙂
You picked out all the yummy parts!
Wonderful images throughout. I like the anaphora form and plan to try it. I loved the Whitman poem Miss Rumphius used on her post and I love your take on it. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Rosi. I think the anaphora form creates a kind of song.
The snow makes everything fresh and enchanting, doesn’t it? I like “the flowerpots huddle like big-bellied gnomes.”
I miss living where it snows about one week out of the year. Your images brought back all the good bits of snow, Liz! I most especially like the line: “Under the snow the barbecue puts on a peaked stocking hat” Better the barbecue than me. ;o)
“the trees sparkle like rock candy crystals stuck to a string” Love it! I live in the same region you do. We got about 8 inches of snow on Tuesday. After a little melting, everything refroze. Your description of the trees is perfect!
Well, by the time I got here, all the lines I liked were already shared, but it is a lovely poem filled with showy imaginings, Liz. I do love that ‘layer cake’. Many times a picnic table picture is shared to show how much snow we’ve received. Thanks for writing on your snowy day!
Beautiful snowy poem with a perfect ending. I love those frosty waffles, served to the sky.
The images in your poem are so perfect I can actually see the snow clearly. We expected snow but got only sleet with a little mix. Nevertheless, I posted a snow poem too.
I’ve used this repetitive element often in poems, but didn’t know it had a name. Thanks for the reference.
Your use of the anaphora form works perfectly here! Love it!
Kate Messner also has a picture book to pair with this: Over and Under the Snow.
Lovely! And I like the photo, too!
A lovely anaphora — the cake and waffles are my favorite images. Very fanciful yet visually true!
Liz, you are truly a magician when it comes to turning acute observation into fabulous imagery! I think it really says something that your comments have highlighted so many different lines that have touched people in personal ways.