The Snowbow

Bernie was a field mouse
who lived in a wheat straw hut
on the edge of an old wheat field
where the tractor left a rut

He lived amongst family and friends
in a little field mouse town.
And since the tractor never came now
the village was never knocked down

The wheat grew back each year
so there was always lots of food
and life was sweet and easy
for each little field mouse brood

His mother shooed him outside
one sunny, winter's day
"I've got to clean the house," she said,
"So you go out and play."

While sunny, it was snowing
and a thought came in his mind,
"Why there should be a snowbow!"
which he set about to find.

He asked about the snowbow
as he went from house to house.
But people smiled and shook their heads
saying, "What a silly mouse!"

"Yes, when rain and sun combine
you often get a rainbow.
But never in the winter
do you ever see a snowbow!"

Poor Bernie stood, then tried to jump
to see above the wheat
but Bernie was a little mouse
with little, mousey feet.

So, laughter followed him
from every straw-made house
and he walked with head held low
an embarrassed little mouse.

He came to the old wood gate
and knew where he had to go.
Why, he'd climb up to the top
and maybe see the snowbow!

But the gate was old and rotten
and, though Bernie didn't weigh much
when he reached the top, it fell over
tumbled by just his touch!

All the villager rushed out
to see what was the matter.
Was the dreaded tractor back again?
What made that awful clatter?

The gate had squashed
a patch of wheat straw down
and Bernie was soon surrounded
by all the mice in town

Mothers and fathers, grampas too
with all their kids in tow
climbed on the gate and, looking up,
saw a beautiful snowbow!

2/28/09