The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942 Page: 22

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

Deep into my copy dipping, long I sat there writing, clipping,
Writing lies no mortal ere will dare to write again.
But the silence was unbroken and the stillness gave no token,
And the only words there spoken, were the words "T. W. Ken. ?"
These I whispered and an echo murmured "J. S. Penn !"
Only this and tapped again.
Open then I flung the shutter, and with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Grullo, stepped within my sanctum
den.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed
he,
But with mien of lord or lady, perched above my sanctum den-
Perched upon a bust of Johnny, just above my sanctum den-
Perched and said, "Well, J. S. Penn."
Startled at the stillness broken, by those words so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is it's only stock and ken
Caught from some unhappy campaign, when lies fell as thick
as rain,
Followed fast in my own strain, till his song one burden bore,
Till the war cry of his campaign, the suggestive borden bore
Of J. S.- J. S. Penn."
"Grullo!" said I, "God protect us! maker of custom house
collectors,
Whether Maxcy sent, or whether Jeems has tossed thee here
again
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this border land enchanted,
On this home by Maxcy haunted, tell me truly worst of men,
Is there-is there chance for Johnny and for me and Tommy
Ken.?"
Quoth the Grullo, "Ne'er again !"
"Grullo!" said I, "bird uncanny, get from off that bust of
Johnny !
Grullo, thou art on a bust!" "Yes," he said, "I've busted
Johnny !"
"Tell this soul with pain exhausted if within the distant Austin
I shall clasp my darling Tommy whom folks call T. W. Ken.,
Clasp my own beloved Tommy whom folks call T. W. Ken. ?"
Quoth the Grullo, "Ne'er again."
"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked
upstarting,
"Get thee back into the canvass and the Guadalupe's shore."
But the Grullo never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting,
On the palid bust of Johnny, just above my sanctum den,
On the palid bust of Johnny, just above my sanctum den,
And he answered, "Ne'er again !""

"7Brownsville Cosmopolitan, November, 1886.

22