Best Sledges Poems
Gone, now just a memory the warmth of summer,
winter's icy fingers now take a harsh grip turning
land to frozen waste. Blanketing it in snow as the
nights draw in, reflecting the bright moon.
Children having fun sledges rushing down the hill
and snowmen appear standing as sentinels to winter.
The whisk of skiers as they fly past speeding downwards
their colourful ski suits adding splashes of vivid colour.
Jack Frost hard at work decorating trees with icicles
some short and others long sparkling, reflecting light
appearing like gems amidst the sprinkled snow covered
branches. Once more winter reigns supreme.
Icy winds howl across the valleys causing drifts
of snow some eight foot deep, chilling bones
making us huddle down in fleece lined coats
Rosy cheeks blaze out from under hoods,
And fingers freezing cold from handling snow.
contentment in every face as people head home.
To cups of hot chocolate and toasty warm fires
shutting out for now winter's icy blast.
AGE OF TEN
Way back then when I was ten
Things were so very different then
I wrote with ink in a fountain pen
Whenever we could we would build a den
And I loved to help my dad in the garden
Way back then when I was ten
I walked to school and was never late
Always ate everything on my dinner plate
Played hop scotch by the garden gate
And was not allowed to go to bed late
Way back then when I was ten
No television colours only black and white
Real Christmas trees and a glass fairy light
We all had a different size of trike
Then I got my first two wheeled bike
Way back then when I was ten
We had so much freedom to roam
But must be in for meals at home
Only a phone boxes with a dial phone
And no phone in many a home
Way back then when I was ten
Latest craze was roller skates
And hula hoop with your mates
Skipping ropes and Meccano gates
But lots of fun with wooden crates
Way back then when I was ten
Coins were in pounds shillings and pence
Mothers talked over the garden fence
Scooters that you could make go at such a pace
Noisy steam trains that always seem to race
Way back then when I was ten
With friends you played out doors
Toys for your imagination scatted on the floor
Skipping ropes, skates and many things more
Sledges of wood, a dolls house with opening doors
Way back then when I was ten
Fun was had with blackboard and chalk
Clay dolls that you could walk
And new plastic ones that wouldn’t talk
Then babies came by way of the Stork UNSUPPORTED CODE
glittering snow falls
covering the earth in white
making her bridal
Gently yet persistently the snow falls cloaking all in a
white veil. Monstrous drifts block roads and paths.
How can people get to the church? The pastor waits wringing
his hands in despair. Soon the people arrive in sledges and
snowshoes. The bride no longer sparkling white, her gown is
torn and dirty from the journey. Today only one bride is
glistening and shining as more flakes fall clothing earth
in pristine white, yet she has no groom to wed.
icicles are forming
growing in all shapes and sizes
dangling sparkle
With time they grow longer and thicker. Forming many weird
shapes. At last a man of ice is born and quickly the pastor
says the vows ice and snow are joined and forever united.
As for the other bride she also said her vows and lived happily
soon forgetting it had not been perfect.
ice and snow are wed
together they form glistening gems
emitting pure white
Acrobats in the center ring
Ballerina bears on balls and bicycles
Cavalcades of clowns with calliopes
Dancing damsels in glittery corsets and tulle skirts
Elephants parade in wrinkled suits
Fire eaters flourish flames
Giants on stilts wave ribbons and flags
High wire artists risk their necks to amuse us
Impressive strongmen pull rocks on sledges
Jugglers toss rings and pins and torches and make improbable catches
Knife throwers thrill us with speed and accuracy
Lion tamers in tights tease lions and tigers
Mimes in masks mimic monkeys
Nets cover the aviary of exotic birds
Ostriches with riders race in the far ring
Pink poodles in tutus ride on a tiny Ferris wheel
Quick stepping ponies prance through their paces
Ringmaster Robert in his red velvet frock coat and top hat looking debonair
Slack rope walkers dance and do splits on a swaying rope
Trapeze artists twirl in spangled leotards high above the crowds
Unicyclists on unicycles tall and short and zigzag form fancy formations
Velvet vixen contortionists fit inside tiny trunks and magic boxes
Winged women do a wild dance in the air
Xylophones play for the circus parade
Yellow silks hang high above while leggy aerialists dangle and spin on the web
Zebras perform in unison; feathered headdresses bobbing on their heads
Our winter weather is highly unpredictable
Jack frost often paints frosty ferns on our windows, but we seldom get any snow
Occasionally we get a flurry but it rarely stays on the ground
However, I vividly recall the winter of 2013
It was the first time I purchased thermal underwear!
Gale force winds blew snow into blinding blizzard conditions
Snow fell in such copious amounts it took everyone by surprise
It was the heaviest snowfall recorded in fifty years!
Huge snowdrifts towered up to ten feet in places and they caused chaos
Roads were totally impassable and whole villages were cut off
Little lambs and sheep had no chance and thousands perished
Shop shelves were soon emptied as no supplies could get through
Overhead power lines got damaged and people were without electricity
Yet everyone pulled together to help out those in need
The only ones that were happy were the school kids
All the schools were closed and the children could have fun outdoors
Colossal snowmen appeared in many gardens
Tea trays were used as sledges and toboggans on the snow clad hills
The snow is long gone… but the memories will always remain
My Winter Contest
Sponsored by Viv Wigley
11-26-17
"Siren Sings Poe Home"
Bells are ringing
Can you hear me singing?
Poe absent, finds his feet
6 feet under snow
Soul is free flying
with black feathery things
Sharp knives slicing the cold
Midnight wings
dancing the Passepied
with the tintinnabulation
of swinging titular poets
Murders of Crows
Christmas comes
Christmas goes
(LadyLabyrinth/2018)
Christmas, 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaGBQeJ6SgM
"Hear the sledges with the bells -
Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnEUC4eZjjA
Winter’s white shawl gently envelops
purple heather on the hillside
Children launch their shiny sledges
on fresh crisp glistening snow;
joyful laughter fills the air.
Bite Size Poem No25 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Line Gauthier
10-16-17
Long ago at Christmas time.
By Stanley Russell Harris
The new mad author
And A poetry soup honourably mentioned poet
7th January 2017
Long ago at Christmas time.
It always use to snow.
We kids slid down hills on dustbin lids.
We really did you know.
Rich kids, well they had posh sledges.
Bought from the shops, you see.
But we went down them hills as fast as them.
On our dustbin lids did we!
Once I used a plastic bag.
It really did slide fast.
And I felt every blinking bump.
And had a real sore hand!
I used my hand as a brake.
Or in the book I would go.
As did some of those posh sledges!
They really did you know.
I wish it had snowed this Christmas.
I really do you know.
As now plastic bags are stronger.
They really are you know.
But sadly, there was no snow.
No posh sledge or plastic bag could I see.
And now we all have wheelie bins.
No dustbin lids have we.
We cannot destroy government property.
And remove the wheelie bin plastic lids.
Although if we could. I’m sure we would.
Slide down that hill merrily.
Form:
I am reminded as I look to this bell
with Penola inscribed upon it in brass
of heritage to which it testifies well.
Sixteen men borne over the ocean to vast
wide wastes of white wilderness, there to explore
Antarctic channels, glaciers and savage coasts.
There among penguins and seals were many more
fauna, and features to chart in icy blasts
from sledges pulled by dogs over frozen ground.
Journals and artefacts have yet more to tell
of explorers by a common purpose bound,
held safe in that schooner, their home with its bell.
Grandsons are lifted to ring it yet again,
re-sounding remote ventures of these great men.
Winter Snow
SNOW FALL in winter, SNOW drops in rain
Sledges slide on slippery SNOW
SNOW caps on sky-kissing Mountain
Water freezes to form SNOW
SNOWDROPS are tender and shy
Sunrays dazzle on SNOW
SNOWFLAKES are winter glory
Skating is a fun on SNOW
SNOW WHITE in dwarf’s den
Eskimos dwell in Igloo on SNOW
SNOW BITE is a scary pain
Penguins live happily on SNOW
SNOW WHITE is a special color
Water is denser than SNOW
SNOW floats easily in water
Glacier is slow moving SNOW
11/16/15
For SNOW Contest
Sponsor Shadow Hamilton
6th place in contest
Stop to wish them a Happy Xmas,
to all those who do not have a home,
warmth of hearth, family love we have,
do give them a small share of that part.
They seek not your expensive boxed gifts,
neither the glitter of Xmas tree,
out in the open their feet are cold,
give them cheer and fire of your heart.
Xmas indeed is family time,
for hugs and kisses, good food and wine,
Robins, Carols and sledges on snow,
but think of them when you sit to dine.
when bright stars light up the winter sky,
and Santa’s reindeers are flying high,
Some children wait for dad’s to be home,
Show you care, so they don’t feel alone.
Some have walked miles away from death,
to seek our protection, safety, love.
fierce war has destroyed all that they owned,
they are part of larger family.
Stop to wish them a Merry Xmas,
Share what you can, whenever you can,
our true value lies in what we give,
our love can change how others may live!
Free verse with some unintended rhyme
9 syllables each line.
Thinking of the homeless, and those who will never come home.
The Prophecy:
An ordinary December morning
extraordinary hopes in white,
streets adorned with snowflakes
embellished in red crystal dreams.
She boarded her cab to airport,
awaited holidays had arrived.
From carousels of Tokyo city
to sledges in the Alps, a while.
Roads blocked in snowfall,
eh, just a glitch in the matrix.
An hour early was a wise decision
she couldn't miss her flight,
home calling season it was.
But oh the flight was delayed
by seven hours for clear weather.
'It'd be a roller coaster ride',
her roommate had read a horoscope.
The tiresome day had just begun.
The Adventure:
A birdie spreading new wings
exploring corners of terminal,
unexpected fascination at stalls
infant desires of relaxation.
Strangers seemed welcoming
a town thriving with journeys
she traveled for 10 hours
without moving geographically.
At last announcements made
she boarded with nostalgia,
the journey to her homeland
began with a gleaming dusk,
golden sunset kissing adieu
to sequins of ocean waves.
She read a verse or two
then dozed off with clouds.
A feather travelling afar
in alluring worldly delight.
The Glitch in the Matrix:
Until they had to pause,
just an intermediate stop
where she stepped out to stroll
retracing steps to board again
caught in freezing showers.
Warm at night, she shivered
longing for her cushioned bed.
A long interesting day though
she wouldn't want it again.
With lilac morning whispers
it was time for her homeland.
Outside was a soothing warmth
veiled in white familiar gleam.
She finally cuddled in her bed
with mother's handmade meal.
Woke up to a cup of coffee
and checked for calls on phone.
Gosh! It was still yesterday
dreaded to repeat she'd forgotten,
her body had traveled in past
Alas! It was a different time zone.
~A True Story
September 2, 2020
All In A Day Poetry Contest
Sponsor: William Kekaula
The human troll
He was the tallest man I have ever seen, bigger than the rest
he had one big eye, a lantern, seeing wide and a smaller eye
seeing inwards; he retired as an airline pilot at 75.
He preferred to fly at night alone under the stars listening
to the symphony of the galaxy.
His motto was discretion, not for him to write a book hanging
out anyone, like when he flew explorers, sledges and dogs
to the Nord pole and said nothing when the fearless men
took the glory and got their names in the newspaper.
When he finally retired, there was not a word of his exploit
no king’s medal, no flags were waved.
He had his memory like when he landed on the Savannah
when the elephants played the trumpets to his honour and
The lions wagged their tales.
No one knew where he came from; he never told me
I guessed from a mountain somewhere in the hinterlands
the day he disappeared, the earth shock, I knew he
had been a troll trying his luck in the human world
Its the first day back to work after Christmas. The news is of snow dumps. Outside it's drizzling mostly, with small thin wisps of snow - hardly visible on the hedges and ledges. Nowhere near enough for sledges.
Its grey, overcast, damp. Outside it is no better.
But that isn't all. Its a day of smoked salmon, charcuterie, rum and beer.
Of a Longleat trip, of curry, of laughter, of cheer.
For today is also a birthday. A time for jollity, celebration.
Today is FUNeral day.
Today is FUN-et al day... as well.
In our society its a tough juxtaposition. We don't do death well.
We mourn the loss. We don't celebrate the life, despite the words the celebrant says.
In the same way that as our children grow out of childhood we celebrate becoming an adult - but don't mourn the loss of childhood, of innocence.
Two lives.
One ending, one moving on.
Happy Birthday son of mine.
Reanne... In Peace.
(c) Ian Diddams 2020
DECEMBER
Sledges slide on slippery snow.
In snow sun rays dazzle and glow
Santa Claus glad on reindeer- ride
In slippery snow sledges slide.
Snowfall occurs in winter-rain
Snow caps on sky-kissing Mountain
Joyous children play with snowball
In winter-rain occurs snowfall.
Snowflakes-snowdrops: Winter glory
Snowy weather is winter’s story.
Green peas and spinach are winter crops
Winter glory: Snowflakes-snowdrops
Winter snow white in splendid show
Chilled windy breeze feels free to flow
Also, take care against frost bite.
Splendid winter snow silver white .
06/15/20
Re edited on 11/13/22
November or December Quatrain
Contest by Caren Crutsinger