Hist Whist

 

"hist whist" by e.e. cummings,

illustrated by Deborah Kogan Ray

 

 

hist      whist

little ghostthings

tip-toe

twinkle-toe

 

little twitchy

witches and tingling

goblins

hob-a-nob      hob-a-nob

 

little hoppy happy

toad in tweeds

tweeds

little itchy mousies

 

with scuttling

eyes      rustle and run      and

hidehidehide

whisk

 

whisk      look out for the old woman

with the wart on her nose

what she'll do to yer

nobody knows

 

for she knows the devil      ooch

the devil      ouch

the devil

ach      the great

 

green

dancing

devil

devil

 

devil

devil

 

      wheeEEE

 

(from his collection, chansons innocentes)

 

Edward Estlin Cummings, better known as e.e. cummings, was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1894 and became renowned for his experimentation with poetic language. He died in 1962.

 

 

FIRST SNOW

by Dawn Pisturino

The first white snow of winter

Falls softly on the ground;

The world looks like a fairy land

With snowflakes all around;

The trees dress up like fairies

Dancing on the snow: --

Magic happens everywhere

The fairies dance, you know.

I love the first white winter storm,

The air is cold and frosty;

I stay indoors where it is warm,

But through the windows I can see

How suddenly the world turns white

And disappears beneath the snow;

The season changes overnight

From autumn's bright to winter's glow.

1985

Copyright 2011 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.