Oh Hell S(No)w

Summary

The poem "Oh Hell S(No)w" by an unnamed author captures the chaos and frustration experienced by Vancouver residents during the city's rare snowfalls.

Abstract

The poem "Oh Hell S(No)w" vividly describes the disruption and danger caused by snow in Vancouver, a city unaccustomed to such weather. The author expresses their exasperation with the snow's impact on daily life, from halting traffic to causing back injuries from shoveling. The transition from snow to treacherous black ice exacerbates the situation, making even walking a perilous endeavor. The writer longs for the return of familiar rain, which allows for simple joys like splashing in puddles, and views the snow as an unwelcome disruption to the city's usual rainy climate. The poem is a creative response to a poetry prompt by Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 in her publication "The Brain is a Noodle."

Opinions

The author perceives snowfall in Vancouver as a chaotic event that disrupts normal life.
There is a sense of frustration with the city's lack of preparedness for snow, as evidenced by the inability to drive and the dangers of walking.
The poem conveys a strong preference for the city's typical rainy weather over the occasional snowfall.
The author humorously laments the physical strain of shoveling snow and the risk of injury it entails.
The transition from snow to black ice is seen as particularly hazardous, turning sidewalks into potential "sidewalks of death."
The poem reflects a desire for the restoration of Vancouver to its "normal state of being," free from the complications brought by snow.

The world ends twice a year when in snows in Vancouver.

The white stuff falls and my world descends into chaos.

Cars stop, tires revolving uselessly Can’t make it to work, let’s air our grievances on the Internet Mountains form on sidewalks Throwing out our backs shovelling this shit

Then the slippery transition To the solid Invisible Black ice sidewalks of death starts

I just want to walk without bending my legs like a baby deer, dammit! My balance is bad enough without this hindrance.

Give me my rain back Give me puddles I can splash in and drops I shield with my umbrella Take away this powder-infested hell and Restore Vancouver to its normal state of being

We don’t know when to expect snow here But we can expect the world to end Every time it comes.

This poem is a response to Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她)’s poetry prompt in The Brain is a Noodle.

Oh Hell S(No)w

The world ends twice a year when in snows in Vancouver.

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