A Valentine to Miss Mary Boardman from John Cotton Smith

The following is the verse written upon an intricately folded and paper cut 18th century Valentine.  Both the sender and his recipient were residents of New Milford, Connecticut.

Come, Mary dear, and let me twine
A wreath round thee, my Valentine.
I love those jetty laughing eyes
Altho they fill my heart with sighs.
As twinkling stars in dark midnight.
Like brilliant meteors, they impart
A light that penetrates my heart.
And, Oh, that form so neat and straight,
That moves along with graceful gait,
Methinks that Venus cannot be
Compared in lovliness to thee.

But, Oh, dear Mary, how I wish
You were a tender, little fish.
That I might take my Rod and line
And catch you for my Valentine.
And when at eve I went to sup
I’d cook you well and eat you up.
Or if you were a Bird like mine
That’s cut upon this Valentine,
I’d go and get my fowling piece
And shoot you dead as slick as grease.
Then I’d preserve you in a cage
To gaze upon your fine plumage.
Or I might send for Mr. Peale
To fix your feathers so genteel.
That he might offer a large sum
To put you in his museum.
But you are neither bird nor fish
And so there is no use to wish.
You are a lovely human being
As everyone knows by seeing,
But everybody cannot see
As pretty things as you and me
And I’m in hopes you’ll still incline
to come and be my Valentine.

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