Baby, it's Cold Outside

It's been cold the last few days. Not just here, but all across the country. We're not as bad as bad as some places. Tempetiture has been in the teens with single digit wind chill factors. Right now it is a comparable balmy 27 degrees outside. The first day of winter asserted itself this year, sort saying, "Global Warming? Hey God's in control of the weather, not Al Gore!"

Growing up it seemed to get this cold a lot. We used to have some snow in November and often by December there would be a white cover ground that would stay that way until sometime in March. It was on one of those days back then I wrote this parody.

WITHER WONDERLAND

 1959 (age 17)

Wind is blowin’,

Hear it hissing.

In the land,

Snow is glistening.

Oh, what a plight,

I’ll be blue tonight

From walking in a winter wonderland.

Broken down in the blue car***.

Here to stay is a new scar.

My feet are gray,

Near froze away.

From walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow,

You may find a snowman.

Brush it off,

It could be me.

With this snow so heavy

I can’t hardly see.

Later on, I’ll expire –

Fall into the briar.

I’ll lie there in pain.

My body will be maimed

From walking in a winter wonderland.

***I had a Royal Blue 1954 Ford at the time.

From:   Poetry Reading

Twenty-Six Poems

OJR

Agnes Manser, Sponcer

Pottstown, Pa.

1959

In the Collection, "Early in the Mourning"  (Poems 1954-1959)  Yes, that is my wife on the cover again. 

It's Christmas Next Week

Since tomorrow is the first day of Christmas week, it seemed a good time to just post this old poem I wrote in 1957 at age 16.  It was written that Christmas season during a snow. I then incorporated it as one of the songs in a play I wrote two years later called, "Ya-Ha-Whoey!"

That is my wife I used on the cover photo.

 It’s snowing in the country,

Coming down in white flakes.

Piling up by the kitchen door,

While Christmas cookies bake.

We don’t care if

The drifts get real deep.

Christmas is coming next week.

It’s fine for sledding

And throwing snowballs.

The kids are having fun

Just watching the snow fall.

White snowmen with silk hats

Upon their head.

With songs of Santa

And his suit of bright red.

Toys are thought of.

Lists are being made.

Children are extra good,

Much more behaved.

Manners better

And spirit hard to beat,

For they know

It’s Christmas only next week.

It’s snowing in the country,

Coming down in white flakes,

Piling on the highway

And there’s ice upon the lakes,

We don’t know when

It’ll end. Gee, it’s deep.

Christmas is coming next week.

The adults are shopping.

Worries are leaving.

The rich are giving.

The poor are receiving.

While carolers are singing

Songs of our Savior

Or peace on earth

And love of neighbor.

The mothers are baking.

The fathers are joking.

The children are playing.

The chimney is smoking.

Trains are set up.

Trees are trimmed bright

And towns are lit up

With rows of Christmas light.

Walks are shoveled

And cards are sent out.

Children telling Santa

What they want while on his lap.

The children are restless,

At night they can’t sleep

For they know

It’s Christmas only next week.

It’s snowing in the country,

Coming down in white flakes.

We will get out our sleds

And put on our old ice skates,

Then we will slide

And ride home to sleep

And Christmas is coming next week.