Happy Groundhog Day Poem by Jim Yerman

I love the pageantry of Groundhog Day, I hope I always will
From Gobbler’s Knob, to those great top hats, to Punxsutawney Phil.

Did you know the German’s brought this tradition with them with one slight contradiction
In Europe they looked to hedgehogs for their end of winter prediction.

But they couldn’t find hedgehogs in Pennsylvania and didn’t know what to do
Until they noticed groundhogs were abundant and said, ‘Hey, I guess they’ll do’.

Since 1886 America has turned to Punxsutawney to celebrate Groundhog Day
To see if we’re in for 6 more weeks of winter or if spring is on the way.

For if the groundhog sees his shadow then he knows winter will take its toll
And the furry little fellow heads back into his hole.

If he doesn’t see his shadow as he exits his little mound
An early spring is coming and he stays above the ground.

Thousands of people gather in Punxsutawney to hear the news about their clime
And it doesn’t matter that Phil is right only 39% of the time.

I mean come on people if you’re really want to know what nature has in store
Turn on the TV...that’s what Doppler radar and out meteorologists are for!

No, we tune in to Punxsutawney on Groundhog day not for the magic but the mystique.
Because in a world that’s constantly changing it’s traditions that we seek.

Perhaps in Phil we see a simpler time, with less responsibilities and woe
When all we had to worry about was the coming of spring or a little snow.

That’s what makes us slow down February 2nd of every year
To discover what Phil the groundhog will do the moment he appears.

As for me I care not if Phil is some kind of climate prodigy or weather whiz
Because I live in Florida and we have no idea what winter is.