Christmas Bells Poem by Michael Wooff

When winter comes snow's purity
keeps us at home in unity.
Fun reigns, we invite the muses
when the season its warmth loses.
Although it's nice to watch the snowflakes fall,
we give ourselves to reading heart and soul.
Our minds can wander, we can have a ball
and, when we're all wrapped up in memory,
we rediscover youth with emery.
Venture out, you'll find that the thermometer
has pleasantly dropped, hair being let down in the street
nearly as much as in small rooms tidied up and neat.
A blushing cheek on fire with shame
goes with you in spirit down the main
street of your town. 'A snowflake says: 'I'll tell! ''
serendipitously rhymes with 'bell'.
The bells ring out on Christmas Day betimes
and candles glow and there's a dropp of wine
and then a modest present if you're kind.

[Robert Walser (1878-1956) - Translated from German by Michael Wooff]