title: To Little Clem, from a Little Girl
author: Clement Clarke Moore
date: c. 1852
source: Loose manuscript poem (repository not stated on the site; not in the MCNY notebook index); transcribed by Mary S. Van Deusen, henrylivingston.com, fetched via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/2024/https://www.henrylivingston.com/xmas/livingstonmoore/mooretolittleclem.htm
form: iambic tetrameter quatrains (abab)
lines: 16
attribution: certain
notes: MS heading (removed from body): 'To little Clem. from a little girl. By C.C.M.' Valentine written by Moore in a little girl's voice to his grandson Clem; undated on the site, evidently the reply-piece to the Fanny French valentine of Feb. 1852 (site lists it under 'Loose Poems' as a Valentine). Light. The site's alternative page 'mooretoclem.htm' was never captured by the Wayback Machine. Present in the site's Jackson phoneme data as 'mooretoclem'; unverified whether held back. Site line count 16 agrees.

While older people send their loves
On Valentine's bright merry morn,
And write of Cupids, darts and doves,
And hopeful hearts and hearts forlorn,

A merry child, who knows no art,
To Clem, her jumping playmate boy,
Sends wishes, that, like her's, his heart
May ever dance with life and joy.

Soon may the wintry winds be check'd,
And southern breezes melt the snow,
With wild-flowers all the meads be deck'd,
And sweetest roses round you blow.

What joy to see the blooming trees!
To hear the birds exulting sing!
To sniff the fragrant vernal breeze!
And hail the glories of the Spring!