courtship

Lucky for me that my grandmother chose my grandfather (they are pictured here sharing a moment during their courtship) over the unlucky suitor who penned for her the following poems, though I do love to think of my grandmother as having been a young, beautiful girl with many lovesick boys in tow!

After receiving the first poem, the young Lil responded by leaving the unfortunate fellow a bow of tan. The spurned lover then wrote the second poem, "This is Owed to a Wilted Lily," the title of which is a clever play on her name. I have changed nothing of the original manuscripts in transcribing them here.

My grandmother with her college friends. She is the first girl on the left.

A Love Poem

If your LOVE for me is true,
Send me back a bow of blue.

If your LOVE for me is slack,
Send me back a bow of black.

If you think of me at night,
Send me back a bow of white.

If you think of me in play,
Send me back a bow of gray.

If you want to make a scene,
Send me back a bow of green.

If you think I am a clown,
Send me back a bow of brown.

If you of ACES always think,
Send me back a bow of pink.

If thoughts of me run thru your head,
Send me back a bow of red.

If I am your only fellow,
Send me back a bow of yellow.

If you think I am a dream,
Send me back a bow of cream.

If you think I'm not too old,
Send me back a bow of gold.

If I your life could skyward pilot,
Send me back a bow of violet.

If I could guide you thru life's storms,
Send me back a bow of orange.

If thru the parks with me you would meander,
Send me back a bow of lavender.

If you will ride my flivver,
Send me back a bow of silver.

If you, to me, would tie a can,
Send me back a bow of tan.

If you'd rather have these lines in prose,
Send me back a bow of rose.

If the meaning of MOO!!! you cannot see,
Please dear heart remain with me.

Though you're my LILY OF THE VALLEY
You're still a dear, sweet little GALY.

THIS IS OWED TO A WILTED LILY

Although I once did love you well,
Now, you can go plumb to ----.
I'll admit I thought you funny,
Now, I know you are a rummy.

You were the best girl in town,
But now you are an awful clown.
I once would ne'er think you a rube,
But now I know you are a boob.

At your fair voice I once did blush,
But now my thoughts of you are hush.
I used to want you for my hut,
But now you're just a hair-brained nut.

MORAL
Since you've returned my bow of tan:
Now you must seek another man.
A lesson you did teach me, right;
You've showed yourself in proper light.

This is just a little joke,
From a poor distracted bloke.
Yours is the sweetest of all faces,
Tonight, please save me some aces.
I'll see you after tonight's game,
So it's up to you to make a name.
You are the only one of my many misses,
Upon which I'd shower XXXXXXXXXXXXXX.