4. Threnody for Winter

Dedicated to Tikitikkytiqeticcytickytiquetikytykitiqqi.

Oh Mistress of the cold and clam-
my,
Of ice and 'flu, and, well, dam-
me,
Winds and hail and frozen feet-
les,
Absent moths and long dead beet-
les,
It's you to whom we air our pleas-
zes,
With puffs and snorts and sniffly wheez-
zes,
After catching colds and snuff-
les,
Despite our coats and bulky muff-
les,
To leave the scene to sister seas-
ons,
Gnats and flies and buzzing bees-
ons,
Yet all the same I think I'd miss
you,
Ah ... Ah ... Ah . . . Ahtisch-
oo.