Past Winters. Poem by Douglas McClarty

As a child I hated winter days
Waking up to Jack's frosted glass
Life's breath, clinging to the pane
Wishing I was born to hibernate
I rush to the kitchen stove for heat
Just to chill-out my frozen feet
Then get into yesterday's clothes
After toast and tea, a walk to school
Sit shivering, until a cold milk break
School over, get home before dark
No time to play on the frosty street
There's chores to be done I play my part

I became a coal man aged eight.
No horse or cart to carry coke or coal
Just a bogie made way wood and wheels
From yesterday's child's redundant pram
To Watts coal yard I made many a trip
Way five shillings in my frozen hand
To buy one bag of coal or coke
For a hungry stove to fill and stoke
My socks will be dry for tomorrow's feet
Now hung around the stove to heat
So up aloft to warm cold sheets
Time for a good long winters sleep.