John Updike - A Childs Calendar

A CHILDS CALENDAR

A
CHILDS
CALENDAR

Poems by

JOHN UPDIKE

Illustrations by

TRINA SCHART
HYMAN

HOLIDAY HOUSE

New York

Text copyright 1965, 1999 by John Updike
Illustrations copyright 1999 by Trina Schart Hyman
All Rights Reserved
Printed in the United States of America
A CHILDS CALENDAR was published first
by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. in 1965,
with illustrations by Nancy Ekholm Burkert.
The text for this new edition incorporates
a number of changes
by the author.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Updike, John.
A childs calendar/by John Updike;
illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman.
p. cm.
Summary: A collection of twelve poems
describing the activities in a childs life and the changes
in the weather as the year moves from January to December.
ISBN 0-8234-1445-0 (hardcover)
ISBN 0-8234-1766-2 (paperback)
1. MonthsJuvenile poetry. 2. Childrens poetry, American.
[1. MonthsPoetry. 2. American poetry.]
I. Hyman, Trina Schart, ill. II. Title. PS3571.P4C49
1999 811.54dc21 9846166
CIP AC
ISBN-13: 978-0-8234-1445-1 (hardcover)
ISBN-13: 978-0-8234-1766-7 (paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-8234-1445-0 (hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-8234-1766-2 (paperback)

To Liz and Miranda
J. U.

To Michou and Xavier
T. S. H.

A CHILDS CALENDAR

January

The days are short,
The sun a spark
Hung thin between
The dark and dark.

Fat snowy footsteps
Track the floor,
And parkas pile up
Near the door.

The river is
A frozen place
Held still beneath
The trees black lace.

The sky is low.
The wind is gray.
The radiator
Purrs all day.

February

The sun rides higher
Every trip.
The sidewalk shows.
Icicles drip.

A snowstorm comes,
And cars are stuck,
Though road salt flies
From the old town truck.

The chickadees
Grow plump on seed
That Mother pours
Where they can feed,

And snipping, snipping
Scissors run
To cut out hearts
For everyone.

March

The sun is nervous
As a kite
That cant quite keep
Its own string tight.

Some days are fair,
And some are raw.
The timid earth
Decides to thaw.

Shy budlets peep
From twigs on trees,
And robins join
The chickadees.

Pale crocuses
Poke through the ground
Like noses come
To sniff around.

The mud smells happy
On our shoes.
We still wear mittens,
Which we lose.

April

Its spring! Farewell
To chills and colds!
The blushing, girlish
World unfolds

Each flower, leaf,
And blade of turf
Small love- notes sent
From air to earth.

The skys a herd
Of prancing sheep,
The birds and fields
Abandon sleep,

And jonquils, tulips,
Daffodils
Bloom bright upon
The wide- eyed hills.

All things renew.
All things begin.
At church, they bring
The lilies in.

May

Now children may
Go out of doors,
Without their coats,
To candy stores.

The apple branches
And the pear
May float their blossoms
Through the air,

And Daddy may
Get out his hoe
To plant tomatoes
In a row,

And, afterwards,
May lazily
Look at some baseball
On TV.

June

The sun is rich
And gladly pays
In golden hours,
Silver days,

And long green weeks
That never end.
Schools out. The time
Is ours to spend.

Theres Little League,
Hopscotch, the creek,
And, after supper,
Hide- and- seek.

The live- long light
Is like a dream,
And freckles come
Like flies to cream.

July

Bang- bang ! Ka- boom !
We celebrate
Our national
Independence date,

The Fourth, with
Firecrackers and
The marching of
The Legion Band.

America:
It makes us think
Of hot dogs, fries,
And Coke to drink.

The shade is hot.
The little ants
Are busy, but
Poor Fido pants

And Tabby dozes
In a pool