Valentine Verses

Valentine verses, information and a drawing, which appeared in the Feb. 6, 1920 issue of the Rock River Review, are shared below.

First love missives 

It was a Frenchman who first conceived the idea of composing valentines in verse. Charles, Duke of Orleans, was taken prisoner by the English at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. He was consigned to the Tower of London, where he spent the next 25 years of his life.

But, the cold walls of his dungeon could not completely dampen his sentimental nature, and from his gloomy vault came sunny little verses to the number of 60, which are still to be seen among the royal papers in the staid old British museum. 

One of them reads:

Wilt thou be mine? Dear love, reply,

sweetly consent or else deny.

Whisper softly, none shall know –

wilt thou be mine, love? Aye or no?

Spite of fortune we may be

happy by one word from thee.

Life flies swiftly. Ere it go –

wilt thou be mine, love? Aye or no?

England at once adopted the fad which its royal prisoner had set, and Valentine’s Day found the coaches more than usually laden with poetic outpourings of lovers, friends and even slight acquaintances.

More Valentine verses 

A Substitute, as penned by Mary Humphrey

A Valentine I’ve tried to find

that’s nice enough for you;

But there is none – so here’s my heart;

I hope that it will do.

To His Mother

Today an old sweetheart of mine

is my most precious Valentine;

My best and oldest sweetheart you

are, mother dear. So loyal, true

and tender always. And your love

I cherish over and above

Earth’s fairest gifts. You’ve made of me

all I am and hope to be –

Mother mine,

my Valentine.

His Tenderness Divine 

When winter’s at his oldest

and coldest – and boldest.

Then cometh good St. Valentine,

to show that love is burning

and sighing and yearning.

And breathe upon the wintry earth 

his tenderness divine.

When life is at its bleakest

and meekest – and weakest.

Then cometh good St. Valentine,

to show that love is rosy

and wistful eyed and cozy.

And breathe on every torpid heart 

his tenderness divine.