in winter too..

in winter too we traced the fields
and still felt summer joys
we sought our hips and felt no cold
cold never came to boys
the sloes appeared as choice as plumbs
When bitten by the frost
and crabs grew honey in the mouth
when apple time was past

we rolled in sunshine lumps of snow
and called them mighty men
and tired of pelting Bounaparte
we ran to slide agen
and ponds for glibbest ice we sought
with shouting and delight
and tasks of spelling all were left
to get by heart at night

and when it came- and round the fire
we sat- what joy was there
the kitten dancing round the cork
that dangled from a chair
while we our ...

-john clare