is written
on the calendar.
but then I walk
past my daughter’s
old school,
knees clicking.
poking its head
out of the soil
is a paper daisy, saying,
spring,
spring has sprung.
Photo from Pexels by Stuart Robinson
It’s when the snow is all around,
and leaves slide silent to the ground.
It’s when the river turns to ice
and skating on it might be nice.
It’s when the soup is brimming warm
and outside stays the storm.
It’s when the birds cease their choir
and your feet are by the fire.
Photo in Bavaria, Germany, by Ginette Pestana
The trees are stark and bare in winter,
Mist curls around their feet.
The brooks are running fast and pooling deeply
Where the waters meet.
The sleepy twilight sends the day to flight,
And the bush slides into night.
Winter’s chill seeps down into the gorges,
And all is lost to sight.
Mountain ridges smudge the distance
In the cold grey light.
But soon enough the bush will wake to spring,
And the bellbirds’ chimes will ring.
Image from Pexels by Warren Griffiths
Winter is upon us
It gets colder every day
I need a jacket on
To keep the cold away.
My warm pyjamas and
An extra blanket on the bed
A flannel pillow slip
Where I will rest my head.
Shorts become trousers
Thongs are put away
Tee shirts turn to jumpers
To keep the cold at bay.
Milk becomes hot chocolate
Salads become roast
And cereal is replaced
With honey on hot toast.
Trees are shedding leaves
In hibernation mode
Preparing for the winter
When growth is slowed.
Yes, winter is upon us
But is followed by the Spring
Warmth again is promised
A seasonal offering.
Photo from Pexels by Peter Frese
The morning mist lingers,
doesn’t want to go.
The air crackles,
overnight was zero.
I’ve stoked the fire,
boiled the tea,
a long cold day
awaits me.
Have you ever heard a kangaroo
Go ah-choo, ah-choo, ah-choo?
Have you ever seen a koala
Wearing a balaclava?
Cold kookaburras like to laugh,
But have you ever seen one wearing a scarf?
Owls make hoots
But don’t wear boots,
And as for wombats,
They don’t need hats.
So how come you and I will sneeze,
In the midst of winter’s icy freeze?
The sea where we live reflects winter sky
It’s beauty abounds but we don’t question why
We just build it up with our ‘oohs’ and our ‘ahhs’
We write out our feelings sitting warm in our cars
We don’t critisize as we watch the waves soar
We don’t harshly judge or give each wave a score
The beauty you see is untamed, therefore true
And we don’t mind it’s colour as green, black, or blue
When the wind howls through the trees;
When you fear your feet will freeze;
When dark clouds obscure the sun;
Know that winter has begun.
Now’ s the time the days seem short;
Now a cold can soon be caught;
Now more frequent rain will fall;
It’s just winter – that is all.
Thunderstorms may come and go;
On high mountains there’ll be snow;
Frost may form upon the grass:
This is winter. It will pass.
Winter’s time for active play.
Grab your gear without delay!
Put your boots on! Join your team!
Soon much warmer it will seem!
If you’d rather play inside,
Indoor games wait to be tried.
With your family or a friend,
Boredom soon will quickly end.
Start a hobby and collect.
Fix a toy that someone wrecked.
Solve a puzzle. Draw or paint.
Clean your room. Your Mum will faint!
Drink hot chocolate by the fire.
Read an author you admire.
Whether you’re a girl or boy,
Don’t miss out on winter joy!
Author Comment: My aim in the poem was to help children think positively about winter, since despite its drawbacks and discomforts, these are temporary and the season still offers many opportunities for real enjoyment.
by Doug McLeod
Terrible deep the snow is
Deeper than ever we saw
Nestled together we pray for warm weather,
Waiting for winter to thaw.
Were I a swallow I’d happily follow
All of my friends as they fly
Off in formations to southern locations
Delightfully sunny and dry.
Here in the forest it’s twenty below,
Shivery blizzards persistently blow
Making you freeze from your top to your toe.
Terrible deep, the horrible snow
Terrible deep the snow is,
Wish I could sleep like a log.
Snoozing and snoring, while possibly boring,
Is better than flurries and fog.
Happily dreaming till sunlight starts gleaming
I wouldn’t wake up till the spring –
I envy them dearly, who hibernate yearly –
For winter’s a terrible thing.
Summer is fast but the winter is slow
Icicles form and the rivers won’t flow,
Birds by the million left ages ago
Terrible deep, the horrible snow.
Longer and colder the winter nights grow
How we survive it we really don’t know
Nothing to eat but the acorns we stow
Terrible deep, the horrible snow.
In winter my feet get quite chilly
So I wear umpteen socks, I’m not silly
When the gas bills come in
They all go in the bin
And I burn them to boil up my billy
Australian Children’s Poetry 