Mr. Toad’s Unexpected Christmas: A Fairy Tale/Nursery Rhyme Poem by Jim Milks

Spring has come and gone to summer,
Summer’s warm glow has given way to
Fall’s colors and cool nights, and now
Winter wraps her icy arms about us all

Mr. Toad is in his deep hole
Keeping warm with his fire and hot tea
“this is the time of year I love, when people let me be”
Not a rabbit or badger or even old Mr. Mole

Then came that night when the snow began to fall, and fall
And the wind began to howl, and shake his hall
Without power or lights, only candles to light his way
The neighbors came to visit him that day

“Please Mr. Toad” said Mrs. Mouse
“may we stay here at your house, we have no heat or lights”
“And the storm is so awful this night”
Well if you must, come inside and warm by the fire

With the children of Mrs. Mouse
Running all about his little house
Mr. Toad was quite flustered
With the noise and the bluster

Soon there are neighbors at the door
in need looking for shelter from the storm
some with food and others with drink
little by little Mr. Toad’s mood begins to transform

He begins to understand that helping those in need
Will be his new creed
And with all the people around him with food
and the noise and commotion
have brought to him a new emotion
and this, this time has been the best Christmas

© JPM 1/25/09