Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CLOE TO CLARA; A SARATOGA LETTER, by JOHN GODFREY SAXE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CLOE TO CLARA; A SARATOGA LETTER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Dear clara - I wish you were here
Last Line: Cloe.
Subject(s): Health Resorts; Saratoga, New York; Spas


DEAR CLARA, -- I wish you were here:
The prettiest spot upon earth!
With everything charming, my dear, --
Beaux, badinage, music, and mirth!
Such rows of magnificent trees,
Overhanging such beautiful walks,
Where lovers may stroll, if they please,
And indulge in the sweetest of talks!

We go every morning, like geese,
To drink at the favorite Spring;
Six tumblers of water apiece
Is simply the regular thing;
For such is its wonderful virtue,
Though rather unpleasant at first,
No quantity ever can hurt you,
Unless you should happen to burst!

And then, what a gossiping sight!
What talk about William and Harry;
How Julia was spending last night;
And why Miss Morton should marry!
Dear Clara, I've happened to see
Full many a tea-table slaughter;
But, really, scandal with tea
Is nothing to scandal with water!

Apropos of the Spring -- have you heard
The quiz of a gentleman here
On a pompous M. C. who averred
That the name was remarkably queer?
"The Spring -- to keep it from failing --
With wood is encompassed about,
And derives, from its permanent railing,
The title of 'Congress,' no doubt!"

'T is pleasant to guess at the reason,
The genuine motive, which brings
Such all-sorts of folks, in the season,
To stop a few days at the Springs.
Some come to partake of the waters
(The sensible, old-fashioned elves);
Some come to dispose of their daughters,
And some to dispose of -- themselves!

Some come to exhibit their faces
To new and admiring beholders;
Some come to exhibit their graces,
And some to exhibit their shoulders;
Some come to make people stare
At the elegant dresses they've got;
Some to show what a lady may wear,
And some -- what a lady should not!

Some come to squander their treasure,
And some their funds to improve;
And some for mere love of pleasure,
And some for the pleasure of love;
And some to escape from the old,
And some to see what is new;
But most -- it is plain to be told --
Come here -- because other folks do!

And that, I suppose, is the reason
Why 1 am enjoying, to-day,
What's called "the height -- of the season"
In rather the loftiest way.
Good-by -- for now I must stop --
To Charley's command I resign, --
So I'm his for the regular hop,
But ever most tenderly thine,
CLOE.





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