A valentine that travels
A Newfoundland Geographical Romance
CBC News
Posted: Feb 19, 2013 6:15 PM NT
Last Updated: Feb 20, 2013 3:39 PM NT
Will Annie Opsquotch find her true love? And just where in Newfoundland and Labrador will she find him?
Larry Dohey, who posts interesting archival tidbits on his blog Archival Moments, sent out a valentine of sorts this year when he published a poem called Newfoundland Geographical Romance.
Dohey says he has always loved the story because it takes you in all of the province's nooks and crannies.
The poem is from 1918, and was published in the Adelphian, the school magazine of St. Bonaventure's College in St. John's. It's author? Someone called Bald Nap.
We've animated Annie's travels, which you can see in the video posted above. The poem is below, as well as Dohey's explanation as to where the places are. Do you agree? What about the places Dohey hasn't been able to identify? Tell us what you think in the comment section.
We also consulted this map to help us place the hearts.
A Newfoundland Geographical Romance
Now Annie Opsquotch got a mash,
But wasn’t very sure,
If she loved Old Sam Hitches less
Or Young Joe Batt the Moore
Bad Neighbour when he heard it,
In his Heart’s ease felt alarm,
And sent Joe Batt to Burying Place7;
Gave Sam a Bloody Arm.
Then Annie’s scornful Ha, Ha,
Was Tentamount to snubs,
When Mose Ambrose heard of her Exploit,
He felt like Jack o’Clubs.
Her Beau Bois, she then went in quest,
And traveled day and Knight,
And swore she wouldn’t Stepaside
Till she found her Heart’s Delight.
She took a Gin and Brandy,
Her Bareneed19 to appease,
She took a stock of Horse Chops,
Like wise some Bread and Cheese.
She started on Blue Pinions,
With the swiftness of a Hare,
She went to sleep with Heart’s Content,
But woke up in Despair.
Thru Cat’s Cove, Dog’s Cove, Hogs Nose,
Thru Bear’s Cove, Lion’s Den,
Past Beaver, Seal and Badger
And Duck and Deer and Clam;
Thru Fox and Goose and Wolf Bay
Rat, Weasel, Turtle, Swan,
Thru, Salmon, Swile and Puffin,
And rested her at Lawn.
Thru Lobster, Loon and
Clown Cove
With haste she did Pushthrough,
Thru Gouffe, Greeps and Gaggles
Knife Cove and Lance au Lou;
Cupid’s message via Pacquet
Put an end to her alarms,
At last she got her Heart’s Desire,
Snug, Safe in Joe Batt’s Arms.
Bald Nap
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