We went without a summer
And hardly any spring
Birthdays were forgotten
And birds seemed not to sing
Classrooms were too quiet
And no one got to play
The evening news was full of noise
But no one had their say
Lovers wed in secret
Or plans were put on hold
Gardens were neglected
The ground was hard and cold
We bid adieu to loved ones lost
But couldn’t say good-bye
Each morning we would ask
Is there a sun still in the sky
Even those with happy hearts
Ran out of joy to borrow
Adventures that you planned to start
Got put off till tomorrow
A sniffle made us tremble
Have we caught the dreaded bug
Oh what I wouldn’t give
To have a handshake or a hug
How easy to surrender
How hard to count the cost
To hang your head and offer
An alas that all is lost
Then comes the breath of winter
A chill that brings good cheer
A confident reminder
Of the best time of the year
Because a holy child
Who brought good will to men
Sometime long ago
Will soon arrive again
