Week 3 The Trouble with Snowmen

Hi all,

Please share your ideas with us on The trouble with snowmen here.

We look forward to receiving your ideas and writing.

Michael.

84 thoughts on “Week 3 The Trouble with Snowmen

  1. The Trouble With The Rainbows By Aisha

    The trouble with rainbows,’
    Said my father one year
    ‘They are no sooner made
    than they just disappear.

    I’ll build you a rainbow
    And I’ll build it to last
    Add sand and coloured cement
    And then have it cast.

    And so every summer,’
    He went on to explain
    ‘You shall have a rainbow
    Be it sunshine or rain.’

    And that rainbow still stands
    Though my father is gone
    Out there in the garden
    Like an unmarked gravestone.

    Staring up at the house
    Gross and misshapen
    As if waiting for something
    Bad to happen.

    For as the seasons pass
    And I grow older
    When winters seem short
    And summers hotter.

    The rainbows I envy
    As I watch children play
    Are the ones that are made
    And then fade away.

    1. In the poem ‘The trouble with snowmen’ I like the fourth stanza due to the fact even though his/her dad dies , he has the snowman to remember him by.

      but the thing that I don’t like is that his dad dies and that the snowman lasts longer than him

    2. I like the part is these two
      6th part
      For as the years pass
      And I grow older
      When summer seems short
      And winters colder
      7th part
      The snowmen I envy
      As I watch children play
      Are the ones that are made
      And then fade away.

      These parts made me feel sad inside because our parent will fade away sooner or later. I would be real sad if my dad made me a snowman that never disappear it would bring back bad memories.

  2. I like it because you can compare it to real life. Because the dad dies and it is like a gift that the boy will treasure.

  3. The Trouble with flowers

    The trouble with flowers said my mother one day,
    They surely leave you forever,
    They come once a year and leave that same year,

    I’ll plant you a flower,
    One that will hopefully last,
    Add some rain and sun,
    And then have it grow,

    And so every winter,
    The flower shan’t die,
    You shall have one that will survive,
    Be it winter or spring the flower will stay,

    Though that flower still stands,
    Though my mother is gone,
    Out there in the garden,
    Like a unmarked gravestone,

    Staring constantly at the flower,
    So gloomy and lonely,
    As if I’m waiting patiently for something bad
    To happen.

    For a the years slowly pass,
    And I grow older,
    When summer seems short,
    And winter seems colder,
    The Flowers I envy,

    As I watch the kids plant,
    Are the ones that are made,
    But gradually dies.

    1. Hi Zarrin,

      When I considered what you could replace the snowman with, I thought of flowers too. It certainly works but how would they make a permanent flower?

  4. The trouble with rainbows by Idil

    The trouble with rainbows
    said my mother one year
    They no sooner appear
    then they just disappear.

    I’ll find you a rainbow
    and I’ll let it last
    Add the beautiful colours
    And I’ll have it stay.

    And so every winter.’
    She would explain
    you shall have a rainbow
    be it sunshine and rain.

    And as the rainbow still stands
    Though my mother is gone
    Out the in the garden
    Like an unmarked gravestone.

    Starring up at the rainbow
    Jealous and misshapen
    As if I am waiting for something
    bad to happen

    For as the season pass
    And I grow older
    When summer goes
    And winter arrives

    The rainbow I envy
    As I watch the children play
    Are the ones I love
    And then fades away

  5. The trouble with a rainbow

    The trouble with a rainbow
    said my farther on year
    They are no sooner made
    Than they just disappear

    I’ll find you a rainbow
    I’ll paint it to last
    put it up on the wall
    and add shine and make it last

    And so everybody
    I’ll have my rainbow
    right by my side
    Be it shine or rain

    That painting still stands
    Though my farther is gone
    Up there on the wall
    But it has not shone

  6. The trouble with rainbows

    The trouble with rainbows;
    Said my farther one year,
    They no sooner appear,
    Than they just disappear.

    I’ll make you a rainbow,
    And I’ll make it to last,
    Add coloured sand and sparkles,
    And then have it shine.
    And so every summer,
    He went on to explain,
    You shall have a rainbow,
    Be it sunshine or rain!

    And that rainbow still lasts,
    Though my farther is gone,
    Out there in the sky,
    Like an unmarked gravestone.

    Staring up at the sky,
    Gross and misshapen,
    As if waiting for something
    Bad to happen.

    For as the years pass,
    And I grow older,
    When summer seems short,
    And winters colder.

    The rainbow i envy,
    As I watch children play,
    Are the ones that are made,
    And then fade away.

  7. The trouble with rainbow
    said my father one year.
    They soon appear
    then just disappear.

    I’ll make you a rainbow
    and make sure it lasts.
    With mirrors and glass
    It’s sure to survive

    So every season he
    went on to explain.
    You shall have a rainbow
    be it sunshine or rain.

    And that rainbow still
    glows.Though my father
    is gone out there in the garden
    like a unmarked reminder.

    Gazing up at my house
    always the same.
    Whispering “I was once speacil”
    delicate and transient.

    The rainbow I envy
    As I watch the children play.
    Are the ones that are made
    And then fade away.

    1. HI Malik,

      What a lovely poem. It’s touching and tender like the original.

      I hope you feel very proud of your writing.

  8. The Trouble With Rainbows

    The trouble with rainbows
    said i’ll make you a rainbow
    that won’t fade away.

    I’ll make you a rainbow that
    won’t fade away it’ll be in the
    rain and sun all day every day
    so it won’t fade away.

    It will come out every day
    spiring and summer no matter
    what day so bright brighter than
    a yellow colour it will be as beautiful as a flower.

    And that rainbow stood
    though my father was gone
    the beautiful rainbow still stood
    as beautiful it could.

    1. Hi Luca,

      Thank you for sharing your poem with us. I think the rainbow works well. It’s like a snowman as it too fades away but it’s also something we love to see.

  9. Ambler are going to study The Trouble with Snowmen today – we will be posting on the blog as part of the lesson!

  10. I like this poem because I like the idea of a snowman made out of sand and cement because it will never go away so he can remember him playing in the snow and remember his dad building it for him. What I don’t like about the poem is that it is sad and his father dies and all the summers seem short and the winters seem colder.

  11. I really like the last paragraph because its really touching and when it said the snowman I envy as I watch children play are the ones that are made and then fade away and the snowman reminds him of his dad and memories.

  12. My favourite stanza in The trouble with snowman is the fifth one

    Staring up at the house
    Gross and misshapen
    As if waiting for something
    Bad to happen

    because it feels like something bad is going to happen and the person scared and I really like the poem.

  13. My favourite stanza in The trouble with snowman ” is the 4th one because its really sad when his father dies but the snowman is still there and it reminds him/her of his/her father because he built the snowman.

    This is the stanza I like :

    And that snowman still stands
    Though my father is gone
    Out there in the garden
    Like an unmarked gravestone.

  14. I like the idea that the dad thought of his son and wanted him to have a snowman that would last all winter and summer. I think the snowman reminded the son of his dad when he passed away so he felt like he still had a dad watching over him while he was young.

  15. I like this prom because it gave me a mix of emotion. My favourite stanza is the fourth one.

    And that snowman still stands
    Though my father is gone
    Out there in the garden
    Like an unmarked gravestone.

  16. What I like about the poem ‘The trouble with snowmen’, is that even though his/her farther dies he still has the snowman to remember him by.

  17. The reason why I liked the poem is because I thought that they idea of building a snow that can last all the way through the summer is a cool idea especially because the boys dad made the snow man. However his dad has died and the snow man was the last thing he got his from his dad but he did not like the snow man because the snow man got to last but his dad did not.

  18. I liked it because the strong relationship that they had between the father and son or daughter also I liked the stanza when it said the snowmen I envy as I watch children play
    are the ones that are made and then fade away because it is interesting and how it rhymes.

  19. My favourite stanza in the “The trouble with snowman” is the third one. I like it because whatever the weather is, The snowman will still be there for him or her to remember there dad. What I don’t like is that it does bring some sad memories for me and others too.

  20. I liked the idea of making a snowman to live all year round because it will always remind the boy or girl of their dad as well as the strong relationship they had with him when he made it. I also think the idea of making a snowman out of sand and cement is intelligent. My personal favourite stanza is the 3rd one and it goes like this; And so every winter, he went on to explain ‘you shall have a snowman be it sunshine or rain.’ Even though the poem was very good in my opinion it is slightly sad and upsetting. Apart from that the poem was very well written and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

    1. HI Rachael,

      I wonder if a snowman made of cement would work? I think it’s a little like someone saying ” I wish it could be Christmas everyday” but would that work?

  21. I like this poem because he pictured in his head when he was little when his dad were playing in the park together but his father died which is really sad. And I also like the whole idea of the snowman. What I don’t like about this poem is that it is bringing me sad memories about my life.

    1. Hi Sarah,

      I’m sorry the poem recalled sad memories. I think the poet finds his memories sad too but tries to express them through his poetry.

  22. My favourite part is the second and seventh because I like it when the snowman is always watching the boy and the boy watching the children so it reminds him of him when he was a child. I don’t like the part were his dad past away because it is really upsetting. the part is

    I’ll build you a snowman
    And I’ll build it to last
    Add sand and cement
    And then have it cast

    the snowmen I envy
    As I watch children play
    Are the ones that are made
    And winters colder

  23. I think the poem is like a mystery for you to work out what happens next and I think that the speaker is annoyed that the snowman is there while the father is dead.

  24. I liked that it had a physical side and a metaphoric one. It looks quite simple when you first read it, but when you read it for the second time and scrutinize the poem, it is complex and has a whole other story.

  25. I think the trouble with snowmen is crazy because why would you build a snowman out of sand and cement

  26. I really like ‘the trouble with snowmen’ I think it has alot of description and a bit mysterious at the end.

  27. It stood there once, and once it shall be
    As my hopes and dreams crumble in sea
    The shapes that lay upon the sand
    Then fell to pieces in my hand
    As the remains sank into the sea
    Nothing was left, all stood there was me

  28. THE TROUBLE WITH BOOKS

    the trouble with books,
    she said one day,
    is book worms eat them
    they are gone either way

    whether their pages are ripped
    or they are pristine and clean
    but ways chapters are left
    untouched or unseen

    pages are turned
    and spines of books bend
    no matter how gripping,
    books will end

    1. This is a super poem and very imaginative to apply Patten’s structure to books.

      It works very well.

      Thank you for sharing your poem with us.

  29. This is the start of our poem called’ the trouble with fairs ‘

    ‘ the trouble with fairs’
    my grandpa once said
    they stay for a week
    and then they are dead

    I’ll make you a fair
    with some love and some care
    Then ill make you a merry-go- round made with the finest horse hair

    So my grandpa kept to his word
    And there i had it
    The most wonderful fair

  30. I find ‘The Trouble with Snowmen’ very sad. For me the best part about snowmen is that they’re special and rare. The metaphorical and literal meaning a little depressing.

  31. the fun in snowmen is the are only there for a while, the fun is building them not having them so the mans dad doesn’t understand them!

  32. The trouble with flowers.

    The trouble with flowers,
    Said my father to me,
    Is once they have blossomed,
    They die as they’re weak,

    I’ll build you a flower,
    It will be out of clay,
    So that you’ll never find,
    Your flower’s dead one day,

    So every day,
    He built me my flower,
    And when it was done,
    It was as tall as a tower,

    And the flower still stands,
    Though my father is gone,
    The queen of the flowers,
    Or an unmarked gravestone,

    It stares round at the garden,
    Now quite misshapen,
    As if waiting for something,
    Bad to happen,

    For as the years pass,
    And I grow older,
    When the summers seem short,
    And the winters seem colder,

    The flowers I envy,
    As I watch others plant,
    Are the ones that fade,
    And don’t forever stand,

  33. I think the symbolism in this poem is that it is a ways good to start fresh and that some things are better when they don’t stay forever, I shan’t forget that.

  34. The trouble with Halloween,
    Said my mother one year,
    It no sooner comes,
    Then goes for next year,

    I’ll make you a costume,
    And I hope it will last,
    Add some spiders and bats,
    And your all fit tah da,

    And so every Halloween,
    She went on to explain,
    You shall have the perfect costume,
    Be it daylight or night,

    And so my costume still hangs there,
    Though my mother is gone,
    Still in my closet,
    Like an unmarked gravestone,

    Looking into my closet,
    Rusty and old,
    As if waiting for something,
    Bad to happen,

    For as the years pass,
    And I grow older,
    When Halloweens seem short,
    And winters colder,

    The costumes I envy,
    As I watch kids trick or treat,
    Are the ones that are made,
    That are made to break,

  35. I find the ‘trouble with snowmen’ poem sad because when he looks the window and sees the snowman its a bit of a painfull reminder of his father and he is probally jealous of the other snowmen beacause snowmen are supposed to be rare and special but he has a snowman rain or shine.

  36. The trouble with rainbows,
    I said one day,
    is their colours appear,
    Then they just fade away,

    I wish for a rainbow,
    With shades all strong,
    And a pot of gold,
    So my future is long,

    And my rainbow still stands,
    No lighter or dimmer,
    Though the sky is dark ,
    I watch it glimmer,

    Staring up and up,
    At the sky it keeps bright,
    So when I die,
    It will keep my gravestone alight,

    My one childhood wish,
    That will last forever
    But as I grew up,
    I didn’t feel clever.

    By Katie kogan (Gillespie)

  37. I liked the trouble with snowman but when i read the end i felt sad for the child who’s father has died because it’s a sad feeling.

  38. “the trouble whit ice-cream” the ice cream i envy
    said my father one year as i watch the children eat
    they are no sooner licked are the ones that are eaten
    than they just disappear and then just disappear

    ill make you an ice-cream thanks for reading give me a star and a wish
    and ill make it to last
    add water and gravel
    and then have it cast

    and so every summer
    he went on to explain
    “you shall have a ice-cream
    be it sunshine or rain”

    and that ice-cream still stands
    though my father is gone
    here in the kitchen
    like an unmarked grave stone

    looking up at the trees
    coarse and misshapen
    as if waiting for something
    dire to happen

    as the years pass
    and i grow forgoten
    when summers seam minute
    and winters Arctic

  39. The trouble with fire,
    Said my father one year,
    They are no sooner made,
    Than they just faid,

    So I’ll build you a fire,
    And I’ll build it to last,
    It will never be,
    Part of the past,

    And so every winter,
    And summer And rain,
    You shall have a fire,
    Know need to feer or complain.

  40. The trouble with books
    Said my farther one year
    They’re no sooner made
    than they just rip and tear

    Ill makes you a book
    And ill build it to last
    And add anything I can find
    And have it cast

    And so every week
    He went on to explain
    You shall have a book
    Be it sunshine or rain

    And that book still stands
    Though my farther is gone
    There in the bookshelf
    Were most books are torn

    Staring up at the at the house
    Ripped and misshapen
    As if waiting for it
    To fall

    For as the years pass
    And I grow older
    When summers are short
    And winters are longer

    The book I envy
    As I watch children read
    Are the ones that are read
    And then fade away.

  41. I like the poem trouble with a snowman because it has a meaning behind the story. I feel sorry for the dad because all he wanted to do was build a snowman to last for his daughter but I ruins the point of building snowmen.

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