The Science of Snow
The Science of Snow
1
All about this snow
fallen peacefully outside
evenly distributed
on what used to be a lawn.
Accumulations
ice crystals uncomfortably close
ice packaged tightly
a day riding subway trains
workdays on city sidewalks.
Snow pack determines
color, temperature, water
as weather changes
snowpack takes on different roles
how one judges it differs.
Deep snow a filter
absorbs more than one color
deep snow holds red light
often reflecting blue tint
seen on the snow to our eye.
Uniformly white
visible light off the ice
reflecting sunlight
how much is called albedo
albedo of clean pure snow.
2
Foot of glacier snow
reflects pink upon us
Watermelon snow
caused by algae living there
among the packed ice crystals.
Collected iron
makes glacier snow red as blood
drops of melting ice
frozen dust will make snow brown
brown hand with a bleeding wound.
Snow absorbs all sound
dampens all city noises
sound of crying child
road construction, honking horns
or couples fighting next door.
Soon the only sound
compression of ice crystals
underneath our boots
as the ice gathers resistance
hear only the crunch and creak.
Hibernate in snow
a sound free peaceful lodging
animals burrow
amongst the air trapped in snow
that holds their heat all winter.
3
A wintry home
where heat is stored in the ground
an insulation
placed gently by winter’s hand
blankets wrap the life of spring.
Melted ice crystals
provide much needed water
to the roots of tree
waterfalls that lead to pools
where animals wake to drink.
Crystal clear water
offered to our thirsty lips
life’s affirmation
held within silent snowpack
peacefully waiting for melt.
The colder things seem
a cold that seeps into bones
freezes our warm blood
a cold that alters our heart
makes it hard to see the world.
Will bring snow fall
a snowpack of purest white
to return our faith
absorb lights reflected white
dampen all sounds of despair.
For more works like The Science of Snow and other topics by this author visit
Jamie Lee Hamann Author Page
You can also find works by Jamie Lee Hamann on HubPages
- On One Terrible Night: The Family Well - November 8, 2024
- A Peaceful Place to Slumber - November 8, 2024
- Soft Shock of Apples Falling - April 22, 2024
How clever to observe science with snow – and you have accomplished this in a beautiful way. Well done, Jamie.
Thank you Phyllis. Merry Christmas. Jamie