Tale Of Three Cities.

A seedy young man in Savanah
    Fell in love with a rich girl named Anna,
But her papa got mad
    And swore that "By Gad,
The fellow shall never Havana!"

But the couple eloped to Caracas,
    Where the Germans kicked up such a fracas;
And he said to his wife,
    "You can bet your sweet life
That papa dear never will track us."

Edwin C. Ranck

Edwin C. Ranck was an American lyricist noted for his work in the early 20th century. He was a prolific writer and his lyrics were often characterized by their humor and wit. One of his standout works is the poem 'The Optimist', which reflects his positive outlook on life. Beyond that, little is known about his personal life or career. He remains a somewhat obscure figure in literary history.

Edwin C. Ranck

An Irish Toast.

Edwin C. Ranck, Simple Poetry

A Hand-Me-Down.

Edwin C. Ranck, Simple Poetry

O'Dowd Of The Jefferson Club.

Edwin C. Ranck, Simple Poetry

Farewell Snow.

Edwin C. Ranck, Simple Poetry

English

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So youre back from your travels, old fellow,
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When thou hast these lips to kiss?"

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Sea-Adventurers' Song.

("En partant du Golfe d'Otrante.")

[Bk. XXVIII.]


We told thirty when we started
From port so taut and fine,
But soon our crew were parted,
Till now we number nine.

Tom Robbins, English, tall and straight,
Left us at Aetna light;
He left us to investigate
What made the mountain bright;
"I mean to ask Old Nick himself,
(And here his eye he rolls)
If I can't bring Newcastle pelf
By selling him some coals!"

In Calabree, a lass and cup
Drove scowling Spada wild:
She only held her finger up,
And there he drank and smiled;
And over in Gaëta Bay,
Ascanio - ashore
A fool! - must wed a widow gay
Who'd buried three or four.

At Naples, woe! poor Ned they hanged -
Hemp neckcloth he disdained -

Victor-Marie Hugo

Mrs. Purkapile

    He ran away and was gone for a year.
    When he came home he told me the silly story
    Of being kidnapped by pirates on Lake Michigan
    And kept in chains so he could not write me.
    I pretended to believe it, though I knew very well
    What he was doing, and that he met
    The milliner, Mrs. Williams, now and then
    When she went to the city to buy goods, as she said.
    But a promise is a promise
    And marriage is marriage,
    And out of respect for my own character
    I refused to be drawn into a divorce
    By the scheme of a husband who had merely grown tired
    Of his marital vow and duty.

Edgar Lee Masters