Friday, December 24, 2010

CoCo Saves the Winter Snow

Written by Tami Snow

Once upon a Christmas Eve, not so long ago,
Jack Frost flew swiftly through the air, casting ice upon the world below.
When out of a tiny window blew, a fragrance oh so sweet,
he decided to have a look, and floated down to take a peek.

Through the crackled window pane, Jack opened it up wide;
Old Man Winter took a breath, the air it whirled inside.
As the bitter chill flurried in, a couple snuggled up,
and left upon the table there a steaming cocoa cup.

From winter’s freezing exhale, the magic twirled about,
around and over the whipped creamy top, a tiny Fairy then flew out.
She said, “Hi!  My name is CoCo.  How are you this fine day?”
Jack Frost, he blushed a scarlet red and invited her to play.

His hand she grabbed in hers real hard, she giggled and he laughed,
and then the two, hand-in-hand sprang through the glacial draft.
Up, up, and away they climbed within the blustery breeze,
until deciding to take a rest on the branch of an old pine tree.

And as they looked out at the world, and the dried brown earth below,
she turned her head and then she asked, “Hey Jack, where is the snow?”
He then looked out to follow her gaze, with a deep and pain-filled sigh,
Jack bowed his head into his hands and then began to cry.

“Winter Snow was kidnapped for a selfish reason;
the Arctic King wanted her this shivering-cold Holiday Season.”
“We will save her,” CoCo cried, her voice topped with glee.
“I know the way,” said Jack, “Come on, and follow me.”

Over Candy Cane fields, sugar hills, and rolling cookie dough,
they were off on their quest to find Winter Snow.
To the Arctic the two must fly, as swiftly as they can,
“Wait!” said Jack to CoCo. “We must have a plan.”

“On tip-toe we’ll go into his cave, and slowly we will creep.
We’ll give him magic Gum Drops so he will fall asleep.”
Tip-toe they did, their voices near a whisper,
and in the corner there she sat, Winter Snow, all a-glister.

“You found me!” she beamed.  Her voice was all bubbles.
“Thank you for going through all of that trouble.”
 At them he came, the Arctic King all a-fluster,
and they ran and they hid with what strength they could muster.

“Where did you go?” the frosty King boomed.
There seemed no way out.  The friend’s hearts filled with gloom.
“Don’t worry,” said CoCo.  “This all will be simple.”
Then she winked and she smiled, and on her cheek was a dimple.

She flitted from hiding, chocolate eyes all a-glowing.
“Excuse me, your Highness, but winter’s not the same without snowing.”
His eyes were ablaze with an anger so dire,
they swirled and they flamed, and they churned with orange fire.

In that very moment, CoCo had a bright thought,
rushed up to the King, fear-filled she was not.
Wrapping her tiny arms around him so tight,
a warm hug she gave to him.  The action seemed right.

He coughed and he sputtered, and his face was amazed.
In fact, he looked shocked, and completely dazed.
“Why did you do that?” he asked with confusion.
“Forgive us, your Highness, for this unwelcome intrusion.”

“We mean you no ill-will,” she said with a bow,
“but it’s very important Winter Snow come with us now.”
He thought for a second, his forehead crunched up wrinkly,
then looked down at CoCo, in his eyes a-bright twinkling.

“No one on earth has ever shown me such kindness.
You are a very brave soul,” said to CoCo his Highness.
They zoomed from the deep Arctic realm in a hurry.
Dancing pirouettes in the air, Winter Snow blew her flurries. 

So when it is snowing below from above,
let your heart sing, be happy, and remember – give love.
The moral of this story, as you all should know,
is that holidays just aren’t the same without Winter Snow

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Goodbye Valparaiso.

We were four weeks on our way from Valparaiso.
Sailing home across Atlantic blue.
It’s been three years since I kissed you by the harbor,
                Long time away
                But every day
                I thought of you.

That night I woke to hear the wind was howling,
The sea arose with fury in her eye.
Every watch was called on deck to fix the storm sails.
                And we knew
                Err night was through,
                Some men would die.

We sailed for two weeks more without adventure.
Then as the sun was rising from the sea.
A shout of “Ship ahoy”, came from the rigging.
                We raised a cheer
                To hide our fear,
                Of piracy.

We stood beside our guns, it seemed an hour.
We watched the corsair drawing ever near.
The skull and crossbones flying from his mainmast.
                Nothing was said
                By living dead,
                Our time was here.

We raced toward them, both bow chasers  blazing.
A lucky chain shot brought their mainsail down.
Then we turned to port, and sunk them with a broadside.
                Nothing to do
                By us spared few,
                But watch them drown.                          

At last we sailed into the English channel.
We docked at Plymouth on a sunny day.
I promised when I saw you on the quayside.
                Now I’m back home
                No more I’ll roam,
                With you I stay.


Copyright ©Alan Gilbert.  2009