A Talk with the Groundhog

Here, just a couple days late, is a groundhog poem you can read to your kiddos while we all wait for winter to move along. I will lovingly dedicate it to Pooh, who turned 6 on Groundhog Day. Thanks to Google Images for the artwork.

I’m going to see the groundhog

who lives out in our field,

and ask him why predicting spring

is such a great big deal.

He sleeps all through the winter.

He misses all the joys

of Santa and his reindeer

and his sleigh with all those toys.

He misses building snowmen

and rolling snowballs ‘round.

He misses seeing angels carved

in snow atop the ground.

He waits till February

to do his groundhog thing,

then opens up his sleepy eyes

to scout for signs of spring.

He sniffs the air for signals

that spring might soon be here.

He listens for the melodies

of robins flying near.

He seems to have a problem;

he’s such a chicken-heart:

‘cause if he sees his shadow,

it will give him quite a start.

I’m going to tell that groundhog

he shouldn’t worry so--

Old winter has a calendar

that tells when it should go.

Old winter can get tired, too,

and feel the need to rest,

and gladly shake the hand of spring

when they both think it best.

So, groundhog, just enjoy your nap.

Don’t bother coming out,

and we’ll keep playing in the snow

‘til springtime comes about.

And, though you might not know it,

from all the hype you hear,

spring always comes along about

the same time every year.