Poetry to Celebrate the Winter Season

Poetry to Celebrate the Winter Season

From the twinkling lights, to the first snowfall, to holiday celebrations, there’s plenty to look forward to this time of year. To get you in the right spirits, we’re sharing a few of our favorite poems that commemorate the winter season.

“The Snow Fairy” 

Claude McKay

Throughout the afternoon I watched them there, 

Snow-fairies falling, falling from the sky, 

Whirling fantastic in the misty air, 

Contending fierce for space supremacy. 

And they flew down a mightier force at night, 

As though in heaven there was revolt and riot, 

And they, frail things had taken panic flight 

Down to the calm earth seeking peace and quiet. 

I went to bed and rose at early dawn 

To see them huddled together in a heap, 

Each merged into the other upon the lawn, 

Worn out by the sharp struggle, fast asleep. 

The sun shone brightly on them half the day, 

By night they stealthily had stol’n away. 

II

 

And suddenly my thoughts then turned to you 

Who came to me upon a winter’s night, 

When snow-sprites round my attic window flew, 

Your hair disheveled, eyes aglow with light. 

My heart was like the weather when you came, 

The wanton winds were blowing loud and long; 

But you, with joy and passion all aflame, 

You danced and sang a lilting summer song. 

I made room for you in my little bed, 

Took covers from the closet fresh and warm, 

A downful pillow for your scented head, 

And lay down with you resting in my arm. 

You went with Dawn. You left me ere the day, 

The lonely actor of a dreamy play. 

“Winter Trees”

William Carlos Williams

All the complicated details 

of the attiring and 

the disattiring are completed! 

A liquid moon 

moves gently among 

the long branches. 

Thus having prepared their buds 

against a sure winter 

the wise trees 

stand sleeping in the cold.

“Mistletoe” 

Walter De La Mare

Sitting under the mistletoe

(Pale-green, fairy mistletoe),

One last candle burning low,

All the sleepy dancers gone,

Just one candle burning on,

Shadows lurking everywhere:

Some one came, and kissed me there.


Tired I was; my head would go

Nodding under the mistletoe

(Pale-green, fairy mistletoe),

No footsteps came, no voice, but only,

Just as I sat there, sleepy, lonely,

Stooped in the still and shadowy air

Lips unseen—and kissed me there.

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“Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening”

Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.   

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   

To stop without a farmhouse near   

Between the woods and frozen lake   

The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   

To ask if there is some mistake.   

The only other sound’s the sweep   

Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   

But I have promises to keep,   

And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.

“Love Came Down at Christmas”

Christina Rossetti

Love came down at Christmas, 

   Love all lovely, Love Divine; 

Love was born at Christmas, 

   Star and angels gave the sign. 


Worship we the Godhead, 

   Love Incarnate, Love Divine; 

Worship we our Jesus: 

   But wherewith for sacred sign? 


Love shall be our token, 

   Love be yours and love be mine, 

Love to God and all men, 

   Love for plea and gift and sign.

[little tree]

E. E. Cummings 

little tree 

little silent Christmas tree 

you are so little 

you are more like a flower 


who found you in the green forest 

and were you very sorry to come away? 

see          i will comfort you 

because you smell so sweetly 


i will kiss your cool bark 

and hug you safe and tight 

just as your mother would, 

only don't be afraid 


look          the spangles 

that sleep all the year in a dark box 

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine, 

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads, 


put up your little arms 

and i'll give them all to you to hold 

every finger shall have its ring 

and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy 


then when you're quite dressed 

you'll stand in the window for everyone to see 

and how they'll stare! 

oh but you'll be very proud 


and my little sister and i will take hands 

and looking up at our beautiful tree 

we'll dance and sing 

"Noel Noel"

New York at Christmas!

New York at Christmas!

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