Christmas Break comes one day early

Today we woke up to a revolution of snow,

its white flag waving over everything,

the landscape vanished...

...But for now I am a willing prisioner in this house,

a sympathizer with the anarchic cause of snow.

I will make a pot of tea

and listen to the plastic radio on the counter,

as glad as anyone to hear the news

that the Kiddie Corner School is closed,

the Ding-Dong School, closed,

the All Aboard Children's School, closed,

the Hi-Ho Nursery School, closed,

along with--some will be delighted to hear--

the Toadstool School, the Little School,

Little Sparrows Nursery School,

Little Stars Pre-School, Peas-and-Carrots Day School

the Tom Thumb Child Care Center, all closed,

and--clap your hands--the Peanuts Play School.

-- Billy Collins, "Snow Day," from Sailing Alone Around the Room

This morning we awoke to the phone ringing at 5:20 AM, with the news "No school today" (actually, truth be told, the kids had woken us up at least 15 minutes before that--early risers!).  It's unfortunate as today is the day that elementary school-aged kids look forward to for weeks--class parties, gift exchanges, and, in my classroom's case, Lumberjack Day.  All will be rescheduled, but without the excitement and anticipation of leaving for a two week break from the usual routine.