Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-03
MAKING POETRY TO ORDER.

Three Indianapolis Girls Try 1t, and Succeed
Fairly Well
indianapolis Journal
Did you ever try to write poem to Or
der? Three young ladies of this city recent
ly did, with this result: For convenience,
they shall be called Sue, Kate and Flo. Sue
is teacher, and hard-working one. She
burst into the room one Sunday evening,
and said. "Mahe me up poem about the
marigold, quick. I've got to have it to.
morrow"
"I can't make up poem," said Kate; 81
never did such a thing in my life"
"Oh, yes you can, you've got to-, i" said the
excited Sue; 'I've hunted everywhere for
something about the marigold, and can't
find word-not word. I must have it to-
morrow, so think of something, quick"
The three girls put their heads together
and thought. "What does marigold look
like?" asked Flo. "Oh. I'll get you one,"
and out rushed Sue to return with the
flower.
"oh. marigoldl Oh. marigold-" vent
ured Kate
Where did you get your gold?'
''Oh, no; that won't Co." said Sue, who
was getting nervous. "You can't say gold,
and gold-that's no rhyme. Now, girls,
let's think. You try Flo.
Flo gave hysterical giggle and said: "a
marigold grew in the garden, and-and
everybody begged its pardon
There's no sense to that, said Sue. "Oh,
now gf's, don't laugh. I'll write it myself.
Let's see:''
''Oh. marigold - oh. marigoldl Oh,
pshaw! How do they write poetry, any
way? Now stop laughing, girls, and all
think"
"Marigold, hold your shining clusters up.
That's good; that's Splendid
''But it's only one flower" said Kate; "it
isn't cluster"
''That makes no difference; it sounds well,
and it's going"
"MarigoId, hold your shining clusters up
cup-slup-pup-"
"And while you do I'll bring the pup"
suggested Flo.
''Oh, girls, don't. was getting it splen-
did. Think OF something to rhyme with
up, can't you?"
"Marigold. hold your shining clusters up
-up-sup-stup. What does 60 with up?"
"While you do, we'll all 60 in and sup"
said Kate.
'Too many feet" said Sue.
said Flo. "How many feet can you have?"
'Oh, you know what mean-poetical
feet-like,
Mary had-a little lamb,
Its feece-was white-as snow
Don't you know, has to be smooth
Flo ran her her hands through her bangs,
shut her eyes and thought. Finally she
drew long breath and said, without stop
ping:
when the summer flowers are fast asleep,
Marigold her watch doth keep.
Her dress is green-her hair Is gold
And so she doesn't mind the cold.
''There! That's good one, Sue.''
"That isn't so bad" said Sue, "but it
won'tdo, it doesn't sound sensible. OF course
poetry isn't just exactly sensible, but it has
to have sense too, then it has to rhyme, and
it has to have the same number of feet-and
it has to sound smooth and oh! don't know
what it don't need"
ST know whatI need" said Kate. ''About
ten years to write one poem in. Why don't
you take something like Roses are red, and
violets blue or something and change it to
marigold. Like, 'Marigolds are yellow and
violets blue'-or something"
"Oh, don't try to write any more poetry
tonight" said Flo, "I'll die if you do"
"Well," said Sue, ~ don't know what
I'll do tomorrow, but I can't think of any
thing but"
"Marigold hold your shining clusters
up-and not a thing to rhyme with it,
'If my splendid effort is rejected said
Flo, "I'll withdraw"
"Marigold comes in the fall. and makes
us crazy, one and ALL" said Kate. "That
settles it. poetry and are out.p