It’s Poetry Friday and it’s also, here in Australia, the first Friday of Winter. And boy have I been complaining about winter. I really do not like being cold. Or wet. (Unless it’s the kind of wet that comes from swimming and visiting my fishy friends, or standing under a hot shower).
I have been trying to practice gratitude and remember the good things about winter:
- It does not last for the whole year.
- It brings rain, and we need rain for life.
- It is part of the great cycle of life.
- Coats and boots. I do like wearing warm coats and nice boots.
In the midst of shivering and whinging, I had an email from the convenor of a poetry workshop I gave last week which was a wonderful, warm opportunity to share my love of poetry with passionate literacy educators on the other side of Australia. In her email, she shared of her favourite childhood poems. And suddenly I was warm right though – because it was an old favourite I had completely forgotten.
And, since it’s a winter poem, it’s an apt one to share today.
The Elf and The Dormouse 
by Oliver Herford
Under a toadstool crept a wee Elf,
Out of the rain to shelter himself.
Under the toadstool, sound asleep,
Sat a big Dormouse all in a heap.
Trembled the wee Elf, frightened and yet
Fearing to fly away lest he get wet.
To the next shelter—maybe a mile!
Sudden the wee Elf smiled a wee smile.
Tugged till the toadstool toppled in two.
Holding it over him, gaily he flew.
Soon he was safe home, dry as could be.
Soon woke the Dormouse—”Good gracious me!
“Where is my toadstool?” loud he lamented.
—And that’s how umbrellas first were invented.
Written in 1894, this is still such a lovely poem. I’m glad my new friend reminded me of its existence.
Now I’m off to warm my heart a little more, by dropping in my Poetry Friday friends. Today’s round up is hosted by Karen , who, funnily enough, is excited about summer!
I feel the same about winter. But, for me, winter has Christmas…so I can tolerate it until New year’s day and then…ugh! I do also love some warm boots. I’m sorry to tug the blankets back to the northern hemisphere. We really need them and the summer vacation that comes with them. I promise to send them back soon. Thanks for the poem! I’m going to try this one out on students.
Sally, I love the poem you chose to dazzle us this week. I have to read this one to my little grandgirls. Since it is winter by you and I am still trying to organize both my Poetryliscious and Winter’s Embrace Galleries if you have a winter image poem of your locale can you please offer it?
Well, of COURSE that’s how umbrellas were invented! How could it be otherwise? 🙂
As we head into hot-and-humid, I am longing for wool sweaters and extra blankets!
What a delightful poem. And couldn’t that inspire a while suite of poems. (We are not too chilled yet. Just the ideal time right about now. (I do not like it when fingers are frozen and fumbly!)
This made me smile– thanks for that! We’ve got late-Spring rains over here in the Eastern United States… so for a moment, our seasonal weather is overlapping!
That’s a nice thought, Sarah 🙂
What a sweet poem! I can imagine it totally catching the fancy of young readers/listeners. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, Molly.
Ah! The original umbrella! Love that! Wishing you warmth!
Thanks Patricia. It’s such a privileged thing, to be able to complain about winter while huddling in my house, with a heater and boots and layers of clothing. I am so very lucky!
I don’t remember ever reading this poem. Thank you for sharing it here! It has always amazed me that while we are here in the heat of summer, other places are experiencing winter! : )
Agreed Linda. When you are in one season so intensely it is hard to imagine others are in the opposite.
So that’s how umbrellas were invented! I never knew. I love the poem and how fun it is to read aloud. While you are getting used to the cold and wet of winter, I’m getting used to summer, (and enjoying it!)
I’m glad to think of your enjoying the sun, Janice. At least somebody is warm. I will stop complaining about winter soon, I promise – I just have to get my head around how only a few weeks ago I was snorkelling and swimming and now I am huddling.
This is new to me, Sally, clever & fun! And it makes me want to see how umbrellas really were invented. Even in June, last weekend in Colorado, winter returned, much snow in the mountains, a bit down here on the flat. We know it can happen yet it’s always a surprise. Keep cozy there in your winter. Warmth is back here! And thanks for this darling poem!
Glad you liked it, Linda. But what do you mean – how they were ‘really’ invented? You have to believe in the magic of the poem! (Grin)