WINTER ENVY

I live in the California desert
each day is sunny and bright
in the middle of winter
that doesn't seem so right

There is no snow or bitter cold
not much chance of it, I'm told
Sisters in Missouri, it's ten below
has five inches of ice and six feet of snow

She can make snowmen and snow ice cream
frozen streets and frozen streams
she can go sledding in the bitter wind
drink hot cocoa with a friend

Cuddle up close, bundle up tight
go ice skating in the moonlight
sit by the fire all rosy and red
wear hats and earmuffs on her head

Mittens on her hands for extra heat
oh, my that does sound so sweet
bitter cold, ice, and ten below
frozen streams covered with snow

I ask her to send snowballs by mail
but all attempts seem to fail
she froze them and sent them rush
when I got them, they were mush

No cutting wood at six below
no wading through ten-foot snow
no freezing nights and icy days
winter envy leads me astray

I have my desert each day I wake
and starry night without flakes
I'm thankful for the sun's warm light
If I were there, I'd have frostbite