When winter's
shadowy fingers
first pursue you
down the street
And your boots
no longer lie
about the cold
around your feet
Do you spare a
thought for summer
whose passage
is complete
Whose memories
lie in ruins
and whose ruins
lie in heat
When winter
comes howling in
When the wind is
singing strangely
Blowing music
through your head
And your
rain-splattered windows
make you decide
to stay in bed
Do you spare a thought
for the homeless tramp
who wishes
she was dead
Or pull up your
bedclothes higher
Dream of summertime
instead
When winter
comes howling in
The creeping
cold has fingers
that caress
without permission
And mystic
crystal snowdrops
only aggravate
the condition
Do you spare one
thought for the traveler
with no secure position
Who's turned
and spurned
by village and town
at the magistrate's
decision
When winter
comes howling in
When the turkey
is in the oven
and the Christmas
presents are bought
And Santa's
in his module
He's an
American astronaut
Do you spare one
thought for Jesus
who had nothing
but his thoughts
Who got busted
just for talking
and befriending
the wrong sorts
When winter
comes howling in
When winter
When winter
comes howling in