I Wish I Had a River I Could Skate Away On

     It’s coming on Christmas, they’re cutting down trees,

     They’re putting up reindeer, singing songs of joy and peace. Joni Mitchell

Walking miles in the rain to get a rhyme.
Life is not easy for the carefree.
Everyone relates to being sad at Christmas time.

Feeling kind of nervous all the time
about possible ambushes I can’t see,
walking miles in the rain to get a rhyme—

mostly avoiding traffic signs—
feeling sweet and lovely, but also lonely,
relating to being sad at Christmas time

and not needing to be put in mind
of all the grief in the world, the pain and misery
you have to go through in the rain to get a rhyme.

So ask me how I feel.—I feel just fine.
I’m really relating, on this fun journey,
with all the folks who feel sad at Christmas time—

with my friend who’s OK and living in Michigan,
home, but not quite where they longed to be,
walking miles in the rain to get a rhyme.
Everyone relates to being sad at Christmas time.