THE BET

'Good day Mr Crow

I think it might snow,'

said the Magpie flying by.

The Crow looked up

and pulled his face,

'No, the clouds are much too high'.

'Well wait and see,'

the Magpie said,

'I'll bet you a worm it does'.

'Alright you're on,'

replied the Crow,

'it'll be the easiest worm I've won'.

As evening came Magpie called,

'You've lost the bet Black Crow'.

'What do you mean?'

Crow spluttered and cawed,

'There hasn't been any snow!'

'Oh yes there has, inches of it,

a few miles over there.

When I made the bet

I said there'd be snow,

but I didn't say just where'.

SNEEZING

The big blue whale

opened his mouth

and swallowed

all the fish.

He started to sneeze

and blew them back out,

tish! tish! tish!

THE VEST

The big dog scratched

and shook his head,

'It really is a pest.

I've done nothing but itch

since I took Mum's advice

and put on my woolly vest.

It'll have to go,

it's driving me mad,

itching and scratching all day.

When she's not looking

I'll take it off,

By Beryl Lomas

WINTRY JACK

Jack Frost dances on window sills

 and looks in from outside

to see if children are sleeping still

before Santa Claus arrives.

Hanging icicles on the roofs,

 he jumps from house to house

breathing on the window panes

 to stop them looking out.

With pointed shoes and icicle hair

he slides along the paths,

 polishing them so Santa’s sleigh

can go extremely fast.

With long, green coat and black top hat

he makes merry while they sleep,

 sitting on chimneys and freezing pipes,

 frosting the snow so deep.

His job is done when he hears the sound of Santa and his sleigh.

In a flurry of snow he disappears

 waving Santa on his way.

ONCE UPON CHRISTMAS

Father Christmas tell us a tale

of children long ago,

in houses whitened by the sun

or half-hidden by the snow.

Did they dream of Christmas time

each in their different way,

wondering what the day would bring

as the children do today?

We hope you go around the world

leaving fun at every door

and for those who don't have an awful lot,

please leave a little more.

To all the children who went before

and those who are still to come,

Merry Christmas to you all

and may God bless every one.

A THOUGHT

Carols and puddings,

chocolates and wine,

but please remember

why we have Christmas time.

By Beryl Lomas