Winter Poetry Prompts to Celebrate the Season
Many of us dread when autumn turns to winter. Brightly colored leaves fall, temperatures drop, and gloomy days feel endless.
But there’s so much magic to appreciate during the cold season. So, why not explore winter through your poetry? From the holidays to seasonal landscapes, winter can provide creative inspiration for your writing. Here are some winter poetry prompts to inspire you during these long, gray months.
Winter-themed acrostic poem
Applying an acrostic form to your poems is a fun, creative way to tell a story, capture an emotion, or describe a scene. Put a seasonal spin on this poetic structure with winter terms.
WINTER and SNOW might depict natural winter landscapes with barren trees, sparse wildlife, and slowly falling snow. MISTLETOE might tell your holiday romance story. COAT could represent how your favorite winter coat helps you feel warm and safe, serving as a metaphor for perseverance during a challenging season.
Recall a holiday memory with a loved one who’s passed
As you celebrate the holidays, you might also be reminded of loved ones who are no longer here. Honor their memory with a poem celebrating a shared memory of this season.
Whether you’re baking in the kitchen or listening to favorite holiday songs, capture these magical times in a poem with descriptive imagery. What scents do you smell wafting from the kitchen? Does the fireplace make you feel warm? How can you use this imagery in metaphors?
Winter sunrise
Although many prefer to remain indoors once winter arrives, going outside can help with the seasonal blues. Capture the season with a winter sunrise poem. Consider spending a morning at your local lake or woods when you write this poem.
Note your observations. As the sun rises, how does it bring hope, magic, and warmth to an otherwise barren and gray landscape? In what ways does this contrast relate to your life or your own experiences during winter? Also, what do the trees or lake look like with the sun’s light? Which animals do you hear? Adding these descriptions can transport your reader to where you are.
Hibernating animal
The outdoors might seem lifeless during winter, but just because you don’t see wildlife as often, doesn’t mean animals aren’t there. In a poem, write from a hibernating animal’s perspective.
Decide which animal you want to write about then imagine their experience of winter. Emphasize the animal’s slow nature during this time. How do their days contrast with other seasons? How might your life be similar? What can you learn from hibernation? Or, turn this into an eco-poem by describing how climate change might change an animal’s hibernation—personalize the poem by featuring a local animal.
We hope these prompts have inspired you to embrace winter’s magic. Want even more wintery poetry content? Check out these winter writing exercises to help you embrace the outdoors and this blog on early winter landscapes.
