| Vintage Colorado Poetry to get ready for Valentine's Day --two poems-- February 7, 2005 |
| Our Colorado Girl by James Barton Adams Neat an' natty, sweet an' pretty, Modest as the blushin' rose, Wise an' winnin', bright an' witty, Energy from head to toes. Full o' grace in every movement, Chaste an' spotless as the pearl, Scarcely room fur one improvement In the Colorado girl. Walks the streets jest like she owned 'em. Sunshine imitates her smile, An' her eyes! why heaven loaned 'em To her fur a little while. Voice that makes the angels listen, Soft as mountain brooklet's purl--- Ain't a beauty feature missin' From the Colorado girl. 'Tain't to daughters o' the nabobs Only that we sing this lay ; Daughters o' the rural jaybobs Out o' town are jest as gay. An' the workin' girls, God bless 'em, Are a string o' pretty pearls, An' we're mighty glad to class 'em 'Mong our Colorado girls. High or low in life, jest take 'em As you see 'em on the street, An' no girls on earth can make 'em Take a hindmost beauty seat. Dressed in silks or clad in woolens, They're the same unequalled pearls--- Ain't no bargain counter cullin's 'Mong our Colorado girls. Reprinted from Breezy Western Verse by James Barton Adams, Denver, 1899. |
| Courtship by Harriet L. Wason I haven't much to offer, But on the far hill-side There is a pine-log cabin Where I can take my bride. The door is off its hinges, The chimney too, does smoke, It has a nice south window, But every pane is broke. The floor is hard and solid, The roof in places split, But one day's honest labor Will make a home of it. A table and three camp-stools, Bedstead of undressed pine Are all its present fixings --- But then, there is the mine ! The North Star in Eureka Alone will make us rich ; The Golden Rod in Rico --- I can hardly guess which Will bring the most hard money, But one thing I can tell you : It won't be long, my charmer, Before you cut a swell. Your dresses shall be velvet As rainbow colors bright, And sewed with pearls and diamonds --- You'll set the world alight. Sometimes she "freezes to him," Sometimes "her pa's been there," Then she mocks at his visions, Nor gives his suit a care ; As often is reluctant, Half promises to wait --- But girls are scarce as oak trees ; Besides, the whims of Fate ! The mines may prove a "fizzle" --- The bare thought oils his tongue To trill the same trite raptures Lovers have always sung. Original his motto, Learned in his Western life : "I've as good a right as any To take and starve a wife." Reprinted from Letters from Colorado by H. L. Wason, Boston, 1887. |
| James Barton Adams was a Denver newspaper writer. Harrriet L. Wason lived in Wagon Wheel Gap. |