Questions and Answers

Because of the number of GertrudeandAlice anniversaries happening in 2014 (see previous post) , I thought it would be fun to speculate that hidden in the bottom of one of the archive boxes at Yale, there was a journal with a number of pieces that Alice had written, unbeknownst to Gertrude. Among them was Alice’s take on the Clement Moore Christmas standard in which she anticipates the activities of the new year 1934.

[As with many of Gertrude’s notebooks in the Yale collection, Alice’s notebook also contains marginalia which is noted following the poem.]

‘Twas the week after Christmas, when all through the rue

There was so much excitement and so much to do.

The stockings from Christmas still hung by the stove

And Lovey had left piles of papers in droves.

New Year’s Eve too had passed and a new year’d begun,

It was now ’34 with a lot to be done.

All our friends want  a visit from us to the States

Since my  Autobio’s  a hit, though it’s really a “fake!”

And the opera with Virgil is prepared to debut

With the pigeons and saints all ready to queue.

Tender Buttons is twenty, we’ll give it a shout,

Though there still ain’t a soul who knows what it’s about!

What a year it could be if we do do things right,

Lovey’s star is arising like the Magi’s bright light!

Here I stand in my kerchief and Basket needs to go out,

Miss Stein is still napping, so I’ll take him about.

Many say I should write ‘bout my life as a cook

Maybe someday I will, there’s still time for that book.

Now, Henri: now, Francis; now, George; now, Pablo

On Ernest, on Thornton, on Janet , let’s go

Into this year with great hopes for the best,

Come Basket, tout suite, then it’s time for our rest!

[Marginalia: “I have always detested this poem, possibly because it was read to me over and over as a child and I had to read it over and over to my brother Clarence. I have only used  Mr. Moore’s doggerel as a starting point for my reverie on the new year and not because it is in anyway great literature.” ABT]