Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/A Highly-Colored Romance


 * Ben Green was a New-Hampshire boy,
 * Who stood full six feet two:
 * A jovial chap this same Ben Green,
 * Though he had oft been blue.


 * He loved a girl named Olive Brown,
 * Who lived near Bixby's pond,
 * And who, despite her brunette name,
 * Was a decided blonde.




 * A pink of rare perfection she,
 * The belle of all the town;
 * Though Ben oft wished her Olive Green,
 * Instead of Olive Brown.


 * And she loved Ben, and said that nought
 * Should mar their joy serene;
 * And, when she changed from Olive Brown,
 * 'Twould surely be to Green.


 * She kept her word in-violet,
 * And vowed, ere she was wed,
 * Although when Brown she had Be(e)n Green.
 * When Green she'd be well read.


 * But, ah! her young affections changed
 * To Gray, a Southern fellow;
 * And Green turned white the news to hear,
 * Though first it made him yell, oh!


 * Says he, " How can you lilac this,
 * When you vowed to be true?
 * I'll take your fine young lover, Gray,
 * And beat him till he's blue."


 * Then Olive Brown to crimson turned,
 * And said, "Do as you say:
 * The country long has wished to see
 * 'The Blue combined with Gray.'"


 * Ben Green to purple turned with rage,
 * And black his brow as night;
 * While on the cheek of Olive Brown
 * The crimson changed to white.


 * "O cruel Olive Brown!" says Ben,
 * " I've been dun-brown by you :
 * Let this ' Grayback' his steps retrace,
 * And take Greenback, — oh, do!"


 * Poor Olive Brown, what could she say,
 * To sea-Green look so sad ?
 * And so she rose, and said to him,
 * " I'll go and ask my dad."

. . ..


 * The years rolled by: Ben's raven locks
 * For silver did not lack;
 * And Olive, with her hair of gold,
 * Was glad she took Greenback.