The sounds of winter

SOUNDS OF SILENCE: The cracking and popping of ice and other winter sounds inspired Steele Hays, a reporter for The Rising Tide, to pen this poem. Photo by Steele Hays.

Jan. 12, 2026

By Steele Hays

The snow-covered woods are silent

As you stand still, listening.

Then a step forward,

Incredibly loud!

Crunching, squeaking, swishing sounds 

Of your boot steps on snow

In the 10-degree air.

Snowfalls change everything, painting the world white.

But listen, too.

Step out from the silent forest,

Stand by the saltwater shore. 

What sounds! 

Not snow, but ice -- cracking, popping, growling, scraping, grinding.

Tide falling, ice shelves breaking, cracking.

How can water be so many things

And make so many sounds

In winter?

The Rising Tide welcomes poems and other artistic endeavors from our community, and showcases them here in our “Create” section. If you have something you’d like to submit—a poem, a picture of a painting, a photograph, a music recording—send it to info@risingtide.media. We’d love to publish it and give you an audience for your creativity.