February (Saint Valentine) / J. Ashby-Sterry

from The Social Zodiac:

February

Saint Valentine! The post is late!
No letters come — 'tis long past Eight!
     But on this bright auspicious day
     Frivolity holds laughing sway,
And sober people have to wait!

The burdened postmen moan their fate,
This Festival they reprobate;
     And often think they'd like to flay
           Saint Valentine!

But in these views you'll find Miss Kate
Does not at all participate;
     And Beryl, Baby, Minnie, May,
     With Gertie, Ethel, Lily, Fay,
Right gleefully commemorate —
           Saint Valentine!

~~

J. Ashby-Sterry (1836-1917)

from The Lazy Minstrel, 1886

[Poem is in the public domain worldwide]

J. Ashby-Sterry biography
Valentine's Day on The Penny Blog