I made myself a snowball
 As perfect as could be.
 I thought I'd keep it as a pet
 And let it sleep with me.
 I made it some pajamas
 And a pillow for its head.
 Then last night it ran away,
 But first it wet the bed.

I’ve received several theme submissions; rather than risk an overdose I’ve decided to wait a while and then run another series of narrative poems. In the mean time, on with your regular Minstrels…

‘Snowball’ is Silverstein at his aww-inspiring best. I know of very few people who can enter a child’s world with such a combination of insight, humour and oh-so-deceptive simplicity - even ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ doesn’t have that convincingly natural “if a kid had the talent, this is what he might write” feel to it. I can just picture a parent keeping a very straight face and sympathising with the child - and I’m very glad there’s nothing to stop me from laughing out loud.

— Martin