Poem by Ellis Parker Butler

To Kate (In Lieu of a Valentine)

Sweet Love and I had oft communed;
  We were, indeed, great friends,
And oft I sought his office, near
  Where Courtship Alley ends.

I used to sit with him, and smoke,
  And talk of your blue eyes,
And argue how I best might act
  To make your heart my prize.

He always seemed to have much time
  To hear me tell my joy,
So that I came to deem him but
  An idle, lazy boy.

But on St. Valentine his day,
  I found him hard at work,
As if he had a mighty task
  And did not dare to shirk;

And o’er his head there hung a card
  That made me haste away;
It bore these words—
  Please make it short.
This is my busy day!

And so, Sweet maiden; if I send
  No valentine, you see
The reason here; Love could not waste
  His precious time on me!

1. Jabed Meeker, Humorist
2. New England Magazine
3. The Final Tax
4. To May
5. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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