• Munsey's Magazine (February, 1897)   "To Kate. (In Lieu of a Valentine)"   A poem in 25 verses. Printed in the "Etchings" section. Volume 16. Page 637.  [EPBLIB]

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from Munsey's Magazine
To Kate. (In Lieu of a Valentine)
by Ellis Parker Butler

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!

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