wb :

tramping down to the river side

with our frenzied faces each aglow

we sat down there to watch the tide

each hoping that the tide would show,

each hoping that the tide would know

to join us there to play our game;

hoping each that the tide would show

as the sun set with a yellow flame.

keeping our watches synchronized.

huddling up against the snow -

There it is! one watchman cried

Each hoping that the tide would show,

We huddled toe to toe to toe

but breaking on the bank there came

a swelling from the dark below,

but left the river bank the same.

sighing, disappointed-eyed,

we thought that it was time to go

our shivering faces belied

the sweetness of the weather, though –

we’d each hoped that the tide would show.

we walked back slowly, fighting shame

that crept red up our cheeks and brows

and the sun set with a yellow flame.

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a ballade i had to do for my class. I know it's missing the 4-line envoi at the end, but

1) i ran out of rhymes

2) i don't really know any princes

and 3) stop oppressing my art with your rules