That Night
In the darkness we gather,
scorning the moonlight and the streets.
Carrying our burden,
we make our way to the high school,
behind the houses.
Then duck one by one into the wash
like shadows spilling
up the sandy, tree lined waterway...
walking and laughing.
Nearly two miles later we climb out
crawling through bamboo
Staring at the shadow of the house
reading the warning
that says, 'This house is not for sale! '
Backpacks are opened,
their contents are dispersed with glee.
Taking two rolls each,
we begin to decorate in liberal white.
Soft tendancies unwind.
We wrap them around the chimney,
and into the tree leaves.
Fifteen minutes in the quiet darkness
changes the landscape
into the illusion of winter and Christmas
with the white snow
and big boxes, gift wrapped, with a bow.
Running back together,
giggling children playing in the river,
sneaking back into bed,
whispering excitedly about our adventures.
Until tomorrow,
we drive by the house on the way to school,
finding to our dismay,
that the hose brings down two-ply in a jiffy.
poem by Poet Dragon
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
The Giving Tree
Once there was a tree....
and she loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come
and he would gather her leaves
and make them into crowns
and play king of the forest.
He would climb up her trunk
and swing from her branches
and eat apples.
And they would play hide-and-go-seek.
And when he was tired,
he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree....
very much.
And the tree was happy.
But time went by.
And the boy grew older.
And the tree was often alone.
Then one day the boy came to the tree
and the tree said, 'Come, Boy, come and
climb up my trunk and swing from my
branches and eat apples and play in my
shade and be happy.'
'I am too big to climb and play' said
the boy.
'I want to buy things and have fun.
I want some money?'
'I'm sorry,' said the tree, 'but I
have no money.
I have only leaves and apples.
Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in
the city. Then you will have money and
you will be happy.'
And so the boy climbed up the
tree and gathered her apples
and carried them away.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time....
and the tree was sad.
And then one day the boy came back
and the tree shook with joy
and she said, 'Come, Boy, climb up my trunk
and swing from my branches and be happy.'
'I am too busy to climb trees,' said the boy.
'I want a house to keep me warm,' he said.
'I want a wife and I want children,
and so I need a house.
Can you give me a house ?'
' I have no house,' said the tree.
'The forest is my house,
but you may cut off
my branches and build a
house. Then you will be happy.'
And so the boy cut off her branches
and carried them away
to build his house.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time.
And when he came back,
the tree was so happy
she could hardly speak.
'Come, Boy,' she whispered,
'come and play.'
'I am too old and sad to play,'
said the boy.
'I want a boat that will
take me far away from here.
Can you give me a boat?'
'Cut down my trunk
and make a boat,' said the tree.
'Then you can sail away...
and be happy.'
And so the boy cut down her trunk
and made a boat and sailed away.
And the tree was happy
... but not really.
And after a long time
the boy came back again.
'I am sorry, Boy,'
said the tree,' but I have nothing
left to give you -
My apples are gone.'
'My teeth are too weak
for apples,' said the boy.
'My branches are gone,'
said the tree. ' You
cannot swing on them - '
'I am too old to swing
on branches,' said the boy.
'My trunk is gone, ' said the tree.
'You cannot climb - '
'I am too tired to climb' said the boy.
'I am sorry,' sighed the tree.
'I wish that I could give you something....
but I have nothing left.
I am just an old stump.
I am sorry....'
'I don't need very much now,' said the boy.
'just a quiet place to sit and rest.
I am very tired.'
'Well,' said the tree, straightening
herself up as much as she could,
'well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting
Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.'
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein
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Santa Claus Is Back In Town
Ooh yeah mmmhmmm
I was walking home on christmas eve
The whole neighborhood was fast asleep
The snow was falling, coming down hard
The place looked like a picture post card
And when my house came into view
I noticed something up on the roof
You cant imagine my surprise
When I looked up and realized
It was santa on the rooftop
And our house was santas first roof stop
The reindeer were quiet as a mouse
Didnt make a sound
Santa got ready to make his way down
He had one foot in the chimney
Destination our brand new christmas tree
I knew everyone was gonna be shocked
When I told them I saw santa on the rooftop
I tried to get home right away
But I was just a little too late
The gifts were laid out under the tree
But no sign of mr. sc
I ran over to the fireplace
But there was nothing but an empty space
Got everybody up out of bed
Their eyes opened wide when I said
It was santa on the rooftop
And our house was santas first roof stop
The reindeer were quiet as a mouse
Didnt make a sound
Santa got ready to make his way down
He had one foot in the chimney
Destination our brand new christmas tree
I knew everyone was gonna be shocked
When I told them I saw santa on the rooftop
Some people think the mans a myth
I had my doubts, I admit
Theyll laugh and criticize
When somebody says with that look in their eyes
It was santa on the rooftop
And our house was santas first roof stop
The reindeer were quiet as a mouse
Didnt make a sound
Santa got ready to make his way down
One foot in the chimney
Destination our brand new christmas tree yeah
I knew everyone was gonna be shocked
When I told them I saw santa on the rooftop
Oh yeah
When I told them I saw santa on the rooftop
Whoa
When I said I saw santa on the rooftop
I saw santa
Santa on the rooftop
Hello mr. saint nick (santa on the rooftop)
Why dont you come on down and gimme some ho ho ho (I saw santa)
Come on santa (santa on the rooftop)
Bring it over here (I saw santa)
Lay it on me! (santa on the rooftop)
Santa on the rooftop...
song performed by by Trisha Yearwood
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Christmas Tree! A Christmas Tree!
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
With dark green needled memories
Of childhood dreams and mysteries
Wrapped present-like in front of me.
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
I glimpse a past wherein i see
The child that then grew into me
Not forward fast but haltingly.
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
A time for being with family
A time that's gone so fleetingly
Yet lives for always deep in me.
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
When twelfth night comes whole hauntingly
One lingered look and then i see
No Christmas tree where it would be.
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
With feelings now felt longingly
No corner in my house to see
The magic of that Christmas tree.
poem by David Keig
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The Wrong House
I went into a house, and it wasn't a house,
It has big steps and a great big hall;
But it hasn't got a garden,
A garden,
A garden,
It isn't like a house at all.
I went into a house, and it wasn't a house,
It has a big garden and great high wall;
But it hasn't got a may-tree,
A may-tree,
A may-tree,
It isn't like a house at all.
I went into a house, and it wasn't a house -
Slow white petals from the may-tree fall;
But it hasn't got a blackbird,
A blackbird,
A blackbird,
It isn't like a house at all.
I went into a house, and I thought it was a house,
I could hear from the may-tree the blackbird call…
But nobody listened to it,
Nobody
Liked it,
Nobody wanted it at all.
poem by Alan Alexander Milne
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No Christmas Tree Where It Should Be
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
With dark green needled memories
Of childhood dreams and mysteries
Wrapped present-like in front of me.
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
I glimpse a past wherein i see
The child that then grew into me
Not forward fast but haltingly.
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
A time for being with family
A time that's gone so fleetingly
Yet lives for always deep in me.
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
When twelfth night comes whole hauntingly
One lingered look and then i see
No Christmas tree where it would be.
A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
With feelings now felt tearfully
No home, no kids surrounding me
No corner in my house to see
The magic of that Christmas tree.
poem by David Keig
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My Red House
My Red House
Be quiet as a mouse
I once played in that red house
Shy was I, like a little mouse
Tippy toed I went looking around
Giggling, without making any sound
Happy was I to run around and play
My very own home to live and stay
My Red House
Be quiet as a mouse
Darkness came swiftly one night
A sense of something was not quite right
The shadows came across the wall
Covering my eyes, ready for my fall
The sounds of whips and chains dragged
against the floor
The sheer terror numbed me from looking
passed that door
My Red House
Be quiet as a mouse
The darkness slowly turned to grey
The black clouds lifting away
No longer trapped, I did not need to stay
Free was I to let go and make my own way
So ever slowly, opening that door
I could see the light and so much more
My Red House
Be quiet as a mouse
Changing and always moving
Never stopping and always wanting
Step by step, I shed all those tears
One at a time, I climbed up those stairs
Moving closer to where I want to be
No longer a child but an adult me
My Red House
Be quiet as a mouse
I came home today
The Red House, same as it was yesterday
Slowly, walking up that hill
Everything seems to be in a stand still
I could only stay for a while
Before the darkness comes within a mile
My Red House
Be quiet as a mouse
The breath of life you gave to me
But took away the child within me
No longer a pawn to your destruction
I have found my peace and resolution
Turning away towards the path of light
I see a very beautiful sight
My Red House
There is no longer a mouse
poem by Miu Miu Ayushi
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The big tree
Lets make a tree house for ourselves,
I can remember the words of my love,
Piling up fine wood with your soft hands,
I can see the visions of my love, .
I remember the hanging ropes,
Climbing the tree and tightening them,
It was a tree that we made our tree,
Tears role down my cheeks standing before it,
The footprints of a lost lover I see, .
Your imprints brings sorrow to me,
The tree brings me memories
The swings we made there my love,
Playing while hoping for tomorrow,
Remember the marriage we planned,
The wedding we admired,
And children we debated about,
You said three and i said two,
It was under the tree,
And ended under the tree,
Death took you by surprise,
My hopes so long gone,
My wishes drained into mystry,
Im all alone, with the tree, our tree
You have gone my love,
I wanted to marry you,
I wanted us to grow together,
With our tree, the big tree,
The swings are empty,
The tree house so desolate,
Im missing you.......
This tree shall be symbolic to us,
Us, , , the us that will never be,
As seasons shall surely change and pass,
The tree shall die also,
And will be left all alone, ,
Of course, in solitude
Im missing you
poem by Sir Gaylord Munemo
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The Chimney
this morning...this morning..this morning
the chimney of the desolate house in front of mine
is smoking...smoking...smoking
what a lovely sight
who may be there
on the snow
white smoke onthe white snow
the bare plum tree is
grinning...grinning..grinning
the black crow
on the hazel nut tree
crowing...crowing...crowing
as if life is newly beginning...beginning...beginning
guess..who is there...who is there
behind the yellow lignt seen at night
shining from the desolate window
someone...someone....someone
living. ..emerging from the house
ı wish all the chimneys of the lonely poor smoked
in the wilderness of the cold..cold of the snow
what a happy and a lovely sight
the desolate chimney is smoking...smoking...smoking
ı wish ı were in this old house too
with the mystery of the ancients
where they have come
ı never knew
the desolate house is reviving this morn
ı only see the shadows
growing...growing....growing..and moving
poem by Metin Sahin
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Christmas Wish List
parents running around frantic for a tree
waiting for the last moment so that their children do not see
decorating the tree when their children have been put to sleep
putting the lights, garland and icicles upon the tree.
and hoping that the children will not sneak down to see.
wrapping the presents and toasting a glass of wine
and thanking god for this quiet time.
hoping that the children are having pleasant dreams
of things seen and unseen.
and in their dreams they thank the lord up above
for their family and their love.
and when they open up their eyes on christmas day
and rush to see the tree decorated from bottom to the top
for a split second their hearts will stop.
the presents wrapped in ribbons and bows
to be torn apart by little fingers anxious to see.
what was left under the tree.
the hearts beating in a rapid pace
and big smiles upon their face.
asking each other 'what did you get'.
and in their faces there are no regrets.
they stop and gather around, and thank god for all they found.
for so many children are without
but they thank god for another day and in their hearts the lord will stay.
christmas is not just for gift giving but for living.
and feeling the joy of christ.
and if you have an extra gift, put it on a poor persons list.
for what you do today- will come back to you in another way.
show your children all you can
teach them to give a helping hand.
this is my christmas wish, which i put on my list.
poem by Louis Rams
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Fantasy...
A tree and its shadow
And a dreamy meadow
Waiting for someone....
The Shadow asks ' how is she doing? '
Tree whispers ' shhh! sleeping'
'oops! sorry' says shadow and waits
waiting...they are for the flower that sleeps
on a thin green brunch of the tree
The tree, now drowsy, as sun
Readies itself to set, for the night
and the little shadow? it grows unwatched
With the dimming light
The Tree sleeps,
The meadow sleeps
Huts sleep
and the man inside it
Is in slumber too
Tiny little shadow grows into night
Embraces life with darkness punctured with lights
Dawn Awakes
Sun rays come running back to the tree
Tree asks 'my shadow? where IS he? '
the Tallest palm tree, sky abreast
says 'i think I saw him running northwest! '
The Shadow creeps in and stands upon a pebble
Says ' i wana see...i wana see! ' with boyish charm
Then The flower finally falls
Into shadow's lap
'shh! she's still taking a nap! '
says tree to his friend
Wind blows, it wants to play with her
The sleeping beauty, The flower
'Look! Look! ...she's smiling!
She's happy! she must be dreaming! '
The shadow hushes, excited!
A girl comes out of the hut...
Takes the flower, the sweet, from Shadows lap
What will you do with her, little girl?
She's taking a nap! '
'I'll play with it', the little girl says
The Shadow starts crying
The tree wishpers...
' dont cry dear...let it be...
Tommorrow morning You'll see
Our flower is back with us
On your lap she's lying!
Night comes again
Tree and its shadow sleeps
with Dreamy smiles on their lips
Dawn brings light to the tree and shadow
They wake up and see
Adorned with Dew drops like some rare gems
Their Sweet little flower is back with them!
poem by Saurabh Som
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Snow wonderland
Matching scratches
White square patterns, design by print feet.
Back and forward & square.
Walking straight to shine light & moving shadow
Reflect the way home
Cold needles are sewing the red faces looking around.
Everything is enchanted by light and mud.
Pine tree green cover in a sweet icing.
Drops, smoking, cold melting ice
On my hands warmed pocket.
Broken snow, walking on the front steps.
Inside the house, outside a paint window
Nature a great painter.
After the night.
Museum of white morning colours
Shouting scarf's and boots
Angels games.
Raining melting tree.
Warm grey sky.
White bushes with orange and red berry faces.
White pyramids of smoking chimney.
Keeping warm thrones.
poem by Luca Menin
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Loves The Only House
(tom douglas/buzz cason)
I was standing in the grocery store line
The one they marked express
When this woman came through with about 25 things
And I said dont you know that more is less
She said this world is moving so fast
But I just get more behind with every day
And every morning when I make my coffee
I cant believe my lifes turned out this way
All I could say was
Loves the only house big enough for all the pain in the world
Loves the only house big enough for all the pain
He was walking by the other day and I said
Hey baby how you been?
Yeah I got me a little girl now and shes 4 years old
And shes got her daddys little grin
And you only want what you cant have
And baby you cant have me now
I gave me heart to another
Yeah Im a mother and hes a father
And weve got each other
And I found out the hard way that
Loves the only house big enough for all the pain in the world
Loves the only house big enough for all the pain
You drive three miles from all this prosperity
Down across the river and you see a ghetto there
And we got children walking around with guns
And they got knives with drugs and pain to spare
And here I am in my clean, white shirt
With a little money in my pocket and a nice warm home
And we got teenagers walkin around in a culture of darkness
Livin together alone, and all I can
Loves the only house big enough for all the pain in the world
Loves the only house big enough for all the pain
And I cant explain it and I cant understand
But Ill come down and get my hands dirty and together well make a stand
Somewhere cross the parking lot some bands playin out of tune
City streets are gonna burn if we dont do something soon
And senorita cant quit cryin, babys due now any day
Don juan left, got sick of tryin
No one there to show him the way she came down to the grocery store and
She said i, I wanna buy a little carton of milk but I dont have any money
I said hey Ill cover you honey cause the pains gotta go somewhere
Yeah the pains gotta go someplace
So come on down to my house
Dont you know that
Loves the only house big enough for all the pain in the world
Loves the only house big enough for all the pain
song performed by by Martina Mcbride
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Snow Day
Today we woke up to a revolution of snow,
its white flag waving over everything,
the landscape vanished,
not a single mouse to punctuate the blankness,
and beyond these windows
the government buildings smothered,
schools and libraries buried, the post office lost
under the noiseless drift,
the paths of trains softly blocked,
the world fallen under this falling.
In a while I will put on some boots
and step out like someone walking in water,
and the dog will porpoise through the drifts,
and I will shake a laden branch,
sending a cold shower down on us both.
But for now I am a willing prisoner in this house,
a sympathizer with the anarchic cause of snow.
I will make a pot of tea
and listen to the plastic radio on the counter,
as glad as anyone to hear the news
that the Kiddie Corner School is closed,
the Ding-Dong School, closed,
the All Aboard Children's School, closed,
the Hi-Ho Nursery School, closed,
along with -- some will be delighted to hear --
the Toadstool School, the Little School,
Little Sparrows Nursery School,
Little Stars Pre-School, Peas-and-Carrots Day School,
the Tom Thumb Child Center, all closed,
and -- clap your hands -- the Peanuts Play School.
So this is where the children hide all day,
These are the nests where they letter and draw,
where they put on their bright miniature jackets,
all darting and climbing and sliding,
all but the few girls whispering by the fence.
And now I am listening hard
in the grandiose silence of the snow,
trying to hear what those three girls are plotting,
what riot is afoot,
which small queen is about to be brought down.
poem by Billy Collins
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Sonnet: An Empty House Remembers
The empty house around me ticks and creaks,
A moody end to evening's gentle rains,
A brooding quiet as the daylight wanes,
The secret language empty houses speak.
What stories might this house preserve entire
In rhythmic code composed of click and groan?
Does House recall a sadness with each moan?
Is laughter stored in every plank and wire?
And how might I, a fleeting visitor,
Acquire an ear for stories trapped in time,
And wrap a tale or two in words and rhyme?
How can I tap the House's secret lore?
In silence soft the house slips off to sleep.
Alone I sit, in darkness vast and deep.
poem by Russell Collier
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Baby Lets Play House
You may go to college.
You may go to school
You might drive a pink cadillac
But dont you be nobodys fool
Come back, baby. come back.
Come back, baby. come back.
Come back, baby. I want to play house with you
Listen to me baby.
What Im talking about
Come on back me little girl
So we can play some house.
Come back baby come back
Come back baby gone.
Come back baby I want to play house with you
Well, theres just one thing baby
That I want you to know
Come on back we can play a little house
And we act like we did before.
Come back, baby. come back.
Come back, baby. come back.
Come back, baby. I want to play house with you
Listen to me baby.
Try to understand
I rather see you dead little girl
Than see you with another man
Come back, baby. come back.
Come back, baby. come back.
Come back, baby. I want to play house with you
song performed by by John Prine
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Christmas House
On the second day of Christmas
we left the white house
which had enveloped us.
Ice-crisp evenings
we waited for the train;
the black, shining giant
that took us away
from Christmas.
The lights from the house
winked safely laughing
in white window-frames,
peacefully,
always the same.
Our fingers were freezing,
and we stared enthralled
towards the house
where Christmas dwelt,
not wanting to go away,
wishing to stay there
in Christmas
forever.
Translated from Norwegian by the author of the poem,
Åse Lilleskare Faugstad
poem by Aase Faugstad
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Little White School House
As I drove from the city
With one thing in mind
Was to see my old school
Where I spent most of my time.
I could barely see it
Coming fresh into view
Somewhat strained in the distance
The place that contribted to what I knew.
There stood the ole school house
Up the road just a piece.
As I drove through the woods
My heart thumped with anxiety.
As I heard so faintly
The laughter of children playing
It was a bit distorted
I couldn't make out what they were saying.
I saw the old Merry Go Round
In my imagination going around and around.
Seeing old school mates
Pushing and pushing hard
To make it go faster
Just running not making a sound.
Sometimes slipping and falling
Sometimes even dragging the ground.
Recess and fun wasn't going to last.
Fun time so quickly slipped away
Even work time seemed to pass.
But I could hear our schoolmarm
Gently ringing her bell
Then she would so calmly say
Children, lunchtime is over
As we'd all let go of the rail.
As I drove a little farther
I could see childen wave.
We'll see you tomorrow
And for no apparent reason
I believed what they would say.
And sure enough the next morning
We were all back at school
Joking and teasing but obeying the rule.
I backed up my car looking once again
Seeing where many of us spent our days
At the Little White School House on the hill
Just to sing, laugh or play.
But long are the days gone
When you would hear
The principal 'Mrs. Kennedy'
So kindly sing and say.
Good Morning to you
Good Morning to you.
We're all in our places
With sun shiny faces.
Oh this is the way
To start a new day.
At work or at play
At school everday.
poem by Cecelia Weir
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A Family Christmas Tree
At Christmas families,
gather around a family Christmas tree
to open gifts of love
each has left there for one another.
The tree sparkles
with lights and coloured tinsel,
while on top there sits an angel
to watch over everyone.
Carefully wrapped presents adorn the floor
around the bottom of the tree.
Each has been wrapped
and sealed with a loving kiss,
one for you and one for me.
Then on Christmas morn
as the dawn breaks the sky
the children climb out of their bed
and tiptoe downstairs to the presents,
getting ready to explore.
Before the day is over
there will be shrills of laughter
and joy ringing out
at all they have received
from beneath a family Christmas tree.
poem by David Harris
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House Of Pain
(GillanBradford)
Have you ever had a woman that could make you crazy
Have you ever had a woman that could drive you mad
Have you ever had a woman give you so much trouble
And the best lovin' you ever had
My friends all say I'm losing it big time
But I know where I've got to go
I'm going back there again
I'm going back there again
I'm going back there again
Back to the house of pain
Have you ever had a rock that just keeps on rollin'
Have you ever seen a train comin' down the track
Have you ever jumped into the cold, cold never
And know there's no turning back
My friends all say I'm crazy, baby
But I know where I've got to go
I'm going back there again
I'm going back there again
I'm going home
Back to the house of pain
Have you ever had a weight that was much too heavy
Have you ever had a burden that was yours alone
Have you ever spent a night when you keep on waiting
Staring at the telephone
My friends all say I'm crazy, baby
But I know where I've got to go
I'm going back there again
I'm going back there again
I'm going back to my woman
Back to the house of pain
Then I run away
(chorus)
you'll always be my inspiration
I love you from afar
song performed by by Deep Purple
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Snow on snow
Snow on snow
Flakes gently falling
Like leaves from a tree
Asking permission
Before they land
On the snowflakes underneath
Each one different
Like leaves on a tree
A white carpet
Pure white till soiled
By children’s shoes
They love its touch
Ooo snowball fights
Snow doesn’t hurt
Snow is soft and forgiving
People hurt
They are selfish and cruel
So let it snow
Snow on snow on
poem by James Hart
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