Friday's Poem #4

I'm sorry this week's Friday's poem is a day late. Now, I'm not only lacking inspiration but apparently I'm too busy to do this one thing on time. Maybe it's becauseI'm a bit lost with this change to a new school. I need to get my bearings soon! I'll try to post more often from now on...
Today I've chosen Variation On An Old Rhyme by John Mole. Some of you may recognize the old nursery rhyme which inspired this poem, The House That Jack Built, which you can find here. Both poems are great to practice relative sentences, as they're full of them.

VARIATION ON AN OLD RHYME

This is the blackbird that wakes with a song.

This is the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

This is the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

This is the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

These are the children that cry with delight
That play in the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

This is the wonderland of white
That surrounds the children that cry with delight
That play in the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

This is the quarrel that started the fight
That stains the wonderland of white
That surrounds the children that cry with delight
That play in the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines on the blackbird that wakes with a song.

This is the wrong that none can put right
That caused the quarrel that started the fight
That stains the wonderland of white
That surrounds the children that cry with delight
That play in the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

These are the nations in all their might
That suffer the wrong that none can put right
That caused the quarrel that started the fight
That stains the wonderland of white
That surrounds the children that cry with delight
That play in the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

And this is the song that goes on in spite
Of all the nations in all their might
That  suffer the wrong that none can put right
That causes the quarrels that start every fight
That stains the wonderland of white
That surrounds the children that cry with delight
That play in the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines just the same on everyone.

In addition to writing poetry for both children and adults, John Mole (b.1941) is an accomplished jazz musician. He has won several prizes for his poetry and is currently the Poetry Society's Poet in Residence to the City of London. He trained  as a teacher and often returns to schools to lead poetry workshops and readings.