Short Cake

O gay and festive shortcake you

     Are with me once again!

I doff to you our Easter hats,

     And praise you with my pen.

When comes that early summer breeze

     For something good to eat,

You come along in nick of time

     And put me on my feet.

Hail luscious shortcake white and red,

     Like mother used to make!

No mealy, crumbly sweetened stuff

     Resembling tasteless cake,

But biscuit dough, quick-raised at that,

     To measure one by two;

Split through the middle, browned a bit,

     And buttered through and through.

Rich, red, ripe berries on the top,

     Half-mashed, afloat in cream;

Juice trickling down the rugged sides,

     A reg’lar springtime dream!

It’s well enough to call you “short”,

     That part don’t worry me,

 But when it comes to length I want

     You long as you can be!

June 1, 1905