Featured Poem: Winter-Time by Robert Louis Stevenson

As the festive season approaches even closer, as well as the shortest day of the year, we're keeping things seasonal with this week's Featured Poem from Robert Louis Stevenson. We've already enjoyed tons of Christmassy fun with the Santa's Grotto, Merry Music and Christmas Craft Fair at Calderstones Mansion House, and with the promise of lots more cheer to come with the Ha'Penny Readings and Penny Readings this weekend, this poem should work wonders to keep you in the seasonal spirit.

Winter-Time

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.

Before the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark I rise;
And shivering in my nakedness,
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.

Close by the jolly fire I sit
To warm my frozen bones a bit;
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore
The colder countries round the door.

When to go out, my nurse doth wrap
Me in my comforter and cap;
The cold wind burns my face, and blows
Its frosty pepper up my nose.

Black are my steps on silver sod;
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;
And tree and house, and hill and lake,
Are frosted like a wedding-cake.

Robert Louis Stevenson