Snow King
You fell asleep to steady rain
And woke just briefly once in bed
And heard no rain but felt the cold
And pulled your covers past your head.
Now wake to find your window bright
And world all white and freezing blue;
The morning sun looks on amazed—
Come see what Snow King made for you.
Snow King quarried half the moon
And built for you in just one night
A splendid new white-marble Rome
For all your wonder and delight.
He watches for you from his throne,
For Snow King's one enduring joy
Is for his kingdom all of snow
To have a subject girl or boy.
He sees you in your scarf and coat
Wade through the drifts outside the door,
The puffs of vapor you breathe out,
And all your prints as you explore
The powder filled with colored stars
That Snow King sculptures at his will,
The streets all paved in perfect white,
The trees so laden and so still.
And Snow King says: stay here forever!
What reason can there be to go?
When all you'll ever need or wish for
I'll make for you from ice and snow!
Snow apricots in crystal bowls,
An ice zoo with snow bear and seal,
A candy store of hailstones!
A frozen swing and Ferris wheel—
Or everything but warmth and love.
For Snow King is so very old!
And never has he understood
His kingdom is so deathly cold.
He asks when summer so enchanted—
You played into each summer night!
But now you barely stay the morning.
And how can Snow King bear your slight.
Snow tumbles from the evergreens
As back for home you make your way,
For Snow King trembles in his rage
And rules as king that you must stay.
He blows more drifts against your door
But you escape to Snow King's sorrow,
And now without you all his kingdom
Will thaw to ruins by tomorrow.
Look for Snow King in your window
In the night if you are woken;
He's throned amid his wintry art
And his frozen heart is broken,
With his shadow on the stale snow
And his crown and beard in rime,
And he cries just like an icicle,
One melting tear at a time.