Dust of Snow employs imagery of lightness, purity, and serenity through the snowfall and the hemlock tree. The imagery suggests that even small moments of beauty in nature can uplift the human spirit.
In contrast, Fire and Ice utilises imagery of destruction and intensity through fire and ice -- conveys the destructive potential of desire and hatred, highlighting the darker aspects of human emotions and relationships.
In Dust of Snow, the speaker's emotional response to nature is one of gratitude and appreciation. Conversely, Fire and Ice evokes a sense of fear and contemplation about the destructive forces inherent in human nature.
Dust of Snow focuses on the idea of small, unexpected moments in nature leading to positive change and renewal in the individual. Fire and Ice suggests that these internal forces have the potential to shape not only individual lives but also the fate of humanity as a whole.