Saturday, December 15, 2012

Trashing Through the Snow--Submission for contest

Heartbreaking news in Connecticut.  It's such a helpless feeling, and sometimes all we can do as storytellers and writers is to create something for children everywhere.  This is my offering:



 

 Garbage Truck, Garbage Truck

By Deborah Holt Williams

Trashing through the snow, in a noisy garbage truck,

The bins are hard to empty, with boxes getting stuck.

Crumpled wrapping paper, chunks of Styrofoam,

Packing peanuts everywhere are blown from home to home.

    Oh, garbage truck!  Garbage truck! After Christmas trash.

     Load it in the garbage truck and watch it mash and smash.

    Garbage truck!  Garbage truck! Haul it all away.

    What looked so festive yesterday is now J-U-N-K.

Dried-up wreaths with bows, Lights that didn’t light,

Toys already broken, clothes that got too tight.

The garbage man is tired.  He’s handled lots of stuff.

He wishes folks could see that they already have enough.

          Oh, garbage truck!  Garbage truck! After Christmas trash.

          Load it in the garbage truck and watch it mash and smash.

          Garbage truck!  Garbage truck! Haul it all away.

          What looked so festive yesterday is now J-U-N-K.

The garbage man goes home, and hugs his kids and wife.

They eat and read together, a calm, uncluttered life.

He’s happy with his job, but wishes people knew

That things don’t bring you happiness, but times together do.

        Oh, garbage truck!  Garbage truck! After Christmas trash.

          Load it in the garbage truck and watch it mash and smash.

          Garbage truck!  Garbage truck! Watch it blend and mix.

          So much turns to garbage on December 26.

23 comments:

  1. This is wonderful, Deborah! So much to like! I love the noisy, smelly garbage truck mashing and smashing, which I think would appeal to lots of kids :), and I love the clever rhyme with J-U-N-K, and I especially love the message that it's people and not things that matter! Thank you so much for entering!

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    1. Thank you, Susanna! If it hadn't been for your contest, I never would have thought of this story.

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  2. Sweet message to go with a smelly garbage truck! Loved it!

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  3. Deborah, I love your take! Fun with an important message about people and relationship being important!

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  4. Deborah - This is marvelous! Creative and a theme we can all embrace. People and time are treasures indeed.

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  5. This is lots of fun.

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  6. Love the decluttering message! and I definitely think you used some really clever rhyming here. Wonderful story!

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  7. I love this, Deborah! Great poem, and great message. Thank you!

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  8. Hi Deborah...so nice to connect with you...Susanna's contests are amazing!
    I love your entry...especially 'things don't bring you happiness but times together do'...that is PERFECT...especially after the Newtown CT tragedy...THIS is the message of Christmas. :) And kids will LOVE the garbage trucks!

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  9. Love it! We often don't think about what goes on after the Christmas festivities. That's what it's like at my house the morning of Christmas- wrapping paper, styrofoam, and boxes galore! (And me chasing after it with a garbage bag in hand)

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  10. That's awesome. Funny, this year bin day for us is on the 27th! lol

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  11. The paper, the trimmings, the ribbons and bows
    Where it all goes only the garbage man knows.

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  12. that's so cute and very creative!

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  13. So creative, I never would have thought of this! First, writing a Christmas story about the day AFTER Christmas, and secondly, such a well written message about what is important. Bravo, Deborah, thanks for sharing!

    Maria @novalibrarymom.com

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  14. This is awesome; I love the message and the clever phrasing.

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  15. Loved the creativeness of this story. Very unique!

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  16. What a clever take. I like the message and the fun way you said it.

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  17. You were smart to another variation on Jingle bells! This one is even better than the last. I think kids will really like this one. Especially boys. thanks for sharing. :)

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  18. Love this -- what a clever and creative take on Jingle Bells. My son would love it too - he is a garbage truck fan. Great message too!

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  19. This is great! Well done. And it has a wonderful message, too. Thanks for sharing!

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  20. Wonderful story. I'm a sucker for trash stories! Great message too.

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  21. Really, really creative spin! Kid appealing for sure.
    Congrats on the finals :•)

    Merry Christmas <|||-

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