King Winter

By Veronika Beck

Hush do you feel the chill in the air.
The flowers are sleeping, the trees are all bare.
A cold crisp wind blows far from the north.
Is it time for King Winter to come forth?
Come listen close children to a story once told
of a King and his kingdom and times of old.
Of a beautiful palace adorned in white
blessed by the moon in her pale wintery light.
Here he reigns from his glacial throne
with his staff of crystal and precious stone.
So jump into bed and turn out the light
and I’ll tell you a tale of his travels tonight.

Long, long ago when the earth had begun
born was a child from the moon and the sun.
Then one summers day with the touch of his hand
he discovered a gift, he could cool the hot land.
From that day forth his duty was clear
he would circle the earth to lands far and near.
Covering her soil with blankets of snow and
preserving her roots for the children who follow.
Bound for the forests of the great northern lands
then south to warm waters and soft golden sands.
Conjuring the wind and the swell of the seas
frosting mountains, rivers and every last tree.
Bringing bountiful gifts of treasures sooo cold
puddles to splash in and snowballs to hold.

And he saddles his snow-bear year after year
he takes to the stars with a wintery cheer
and he rides through the wind with his piercing blue eyes
his white cloak blowing fiercely as he flies through the skies.
Then with an almighty strike of his staff to the ground
he sends out a message to those gathered round,
to the trees and the birds and the folk of the woods,
through the whispering winds and to all who are good.
Behold his proud presence with wonder and awe.
We must honour dear children his wintery law.
Hush can you hear him? He almost is here.
Dream blissful dreams as winter is near.
For when in the morning your spirits awake,
you might just be blessed with a precious snowflake.