A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season

by Robert Atwan (Compiler), Donald Hall (Introduction)

There is no better time to curl up in a comfortable chair and read than in wintertime. And winter has been a powerful muse for many of America's best loved poets. The elegant patterns of frost on a windowpane, a child on a sled, a lone fox foraging for food on a desolate landscape, the comic smile of a snowman, the sobering sight of an unkempt man huddled against the cold, or a pair of red slippers glimpsed in a shop window in a gray, windy sleet have all provided inspiration for poems that sustain and renew us.

A Mind of Winter collects thirty-two of the most moving poems on the experience of winter. Illustrated throughout with elegant period woodcuts by Thomas Nason, the poems range from the great classics-James Russell Lowell's "The First Snow Fall" and John Greenleaf Whittier's "Snow-Bound"-to the more contemporary, free form, and diverse-Rafael Campo's "Begging for Change in Winter" and Gertrude Schnackenberg's "The Paperweight."

While all the poets focus on the experience of winter as their theme, each provides us with an illuminating glimpse of winter's subtle forms. Marge Piercy is grateful on New Year's Day for all she has been given; Mary Oliver observes the cruel Darwinian reality of nature; Peter Davison muses on the irony of a "snowless New England"; and Robert Frost is surprised by joy while out for a walk on a winter's day. Each reminds us, in the words of Wallace Stevens, that "one must have a mind of winter/to regard the frost and the boughs/of the pine-trees crusted with snow . . ."

Contributors Warren, Emily Dickinson, Richard Wilbur, Angelina Weld Grimké, Amy Lowell, Charles Simic, Peter Davison, Mary Oliver, Sylvia Plath, Marge Piercy, James Merrill, and Maxine Kumin.

Genres: Poetry, Nature

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Robert Atwan has been the series editor of The Best American Essays since its inception in 1986. He has edited numerous literary anthologies and written essays and reviews for periodicals nationwide.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although autumn is my favorite season, this volume reminded me how much I love winter. I love the winter of silent snows, and frozen landscapes. Many of the poets in this small collection are New Englanders or lived in New England. The poets include quite a few women, and out of 26 poets, only include three from diverse backgrounds. Published in 2002, I imagine a collection put together now would find there are plenty of poets from many backgrounds who write about winter.

The collection is enhanced by beautiful illustrations by Thomas Nason. While they represent idealized New England settings, as a homesick New Englander, I found them very evocative.

The collection has intentionally not included well known poems. My favorite was "Boy at the Window" by Richard Wilbur, about a boy who cries seeing a snowman outside, all alone, in a blizzard.
While some readers might prefer reading about warm climates and seasons during the cold months, I found this collection a perfect winter companion.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite part of this book was actually the beautiful woodcut illustrations. Most of the poems weren't memorable to me, though there was nothing wrong with them.

One notable exception is a new-to-me Robert Frost poem, which I fell in love with: The Wood Pile. (Poetry Foundation link)

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been hoping to find this book for some time now. As luck would have it, I discovered a copy on a March day as Winter is giving way to Spring. It is an elegant small collection of winter poems by classic and contemporary poets with some simple lovely woodcuts mixed in. I love Maxine Kumin's "Notes on a Blizzard" (p.45) for its marvelous freshly worded descriptions; the wild turkeys with their "henna feet", deer stripping bark from a birch tree "the way you might string celery." The Sylvia Plath poem, "Wintering" (p. 54), brings us "the yet unbroken blue egg of spring". Beloved poet Mary Oliver appears twice with "Foxes in Winter" (p.33) and the powerful "Crows" (p.59). I also appreciate the sudden turn at the end of Jane Kenyon's Walking Alone in Late Winter" (p.51).

[Freddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A winter’s delight of a beautifully produced book, including a rich selection of classics and recent poems, some of them dark, from a myriad of writers. It led me to investigate a few of them. Donald Hall’s introduction is wonderful, and biographical notes appear at the end. The pages are littered with charming winter scene woodcuts as well.

[autumnatopoeia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely collection to cozy up to in winter. I revisited some favorites, and discovered some new, especially appreciating the short bios on each poet at the back of the book.

[Susan Lomanno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wide range of poets are included in this delightful winter poetry anthology. The depth of the reading experience of poetry cannot be measured by number of pages because one is caused to linger on the imagery in one’s own imagination. A true delight of the volume is the pen and ink scattered throughout the pages. I wanted to enlarge them and decorate my winter walls. A precious volume of oral and visual art to help one appreciate the cold season, especially during pandemic isolation.

[Jennifer Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mind of Winter is a beautiful collection of some thirty poems ‘for a snowy season.’ From classics like Whittier’s Snow Bound to more contemporary poems like Kumin’s Notes on a Blizzard, this gem of a book reminds us that winter is the year’s pause. I enjoyed taking a pause in my daily activities to walk through these poems of the snowy season.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent little collection of poems.

I came in expecting more “reflection, rest, rebirth, cozy, hearth” parts of winter but the book gives more “death, frigid, loneliness, harrowing, depression” vibes. I wish it had more of the first feeling or at least have a gradual build-up and come-down of the latter feeling but it kind of hits you like a brick straight out of the gate. Nonetheless it was still cool to read a range of poets, though it was a bit New-England heavy.

[Crysta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little collection to dip into during the bleakness of January and February. I read the last couple just as the thaw hit. Winter is often the dreariest season, and it feels like the least poetic, but the variety in here was nice, everything from describing winter's wan sunlight to the coziness of being stuck home in a snowstorm.

[Denise :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect book of poetry to have on hand during the cold, white, and sometimes bleak months of winter. There are some of the traditional poems to be found, but there are also deeper works, too…dealing with the winters of our hearts and lives and relationships. It is a well curated selection and this will be a book I pull out yearly.

[AshleyYvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved paying homage to the purity of the season - winter is so medicinal for my soul. I'm never a fan of striking poetry that contrasts doomed marriages or substantial loss, though. It's a buzz kill to me. I'm more of a fluffy, diamond-dust kind of wintry gal. That's my only gripe.

[Judi Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite part of this book were the woodcut illustrations by renowned American engraver Thomas Nason. A good short book to read one evening in the winter. Did not enjoy some of the poems, but loved two Robert Frost poems (The Woodpile, and Good Hours), and one by Mary Oliver (Foxes in Winter).

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5) nice poems to reflect upon winter and beautiful illustrations; that goes without saying. some of the selected poems are dark, which i enjoyed. boy at the window by richard wilbur is the last poem in the book and is the standout by far. that one is really incredible!!

[Luce · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5.

[Ehryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully selected poems that give you a nice taste of winter.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each poem here has a bleak tone, an oppressive quality. There’s dread in winter for all its beauty and that is well expressed in this collection.

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely collection of poems, perfect for a cuddly snowy wintry day.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful book of poetry about snow and winter. To be savored slowly.

[booksgayscats · Rating 4 out of 5]

cozy

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful little collection of wintery, snowy poems by some of the best and favorites: Robert Frost, Mary Oliver, Sylvia Plath, Richard Wilbur... among others... I actually ordered the book for its beautiful little snowy engravings by a favorite New England artist, Thomas Nason, whose lovely hand-built home I was lucky enough to visit in Old Lyme CT many years ago. I love his work, and his illustrations meld beautifully with the cold, white, crystalline imagery of these poems about winter.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of anthologies--I tend to like to read through one person's work rather than see it out of context. That being said, this book has some great poems and I loved the illustrations. Frankly, I don't think the illustrator (Thomas Nason) is given nearly enough credit. At the very least they could have given his name on the cover or on the title page (even if he passed away in 1971). A good gift book or a bedside companion for a guest room.

[Connie Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of poems from so many gifted poets, is a book I read each winter. I actually leave it out, on my side table, and appreciate this cold, snowy season with each inspiring word. Snow is beautiful. So buy it, and some snowy night, when you are sipping your hot tea, turn your Christmas tree lights on, and open this book, and savor the season and its gifts.

[Nan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any book that begins with Wallace Stevens should be good. And the intent and design of the book are gorgeous. BUT the collection lacks focus. Longfellow, Dickinson, Bradstreet, and Emerson just don't sandwich well between Plath, Sexton, and Wright.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually prefer a book by one poet, but this is a very well-chosen, short and lovely anthology. Some heavy hitters and a few poets new to me.

[daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite poets I'd never heard of until this book:

Richard Wilbur - Amy Lowell - Robert Peck - Mary Oliver

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Closer to a 3 1/2 and the wood engravings are beautiful.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poems are brimming with snow, as their speakers meditate on loss and death. Swarming with thick white air, this anthology says, "look out at the bleak land from an icy window."

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my kind of hygge, perfect for reading on snowy, blustery days.