James E Southern
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Birthday and Anniversary Ditties

By substituting names and numbers, this ditty could be used for various birthdays or anniversaries.
The first and second lines could begin with either a stressed or an unstressed syllable.

   A girl, Corrine, was born this day
   Eleven years ago
   This great event we celebrate
   Only locally though

   Angelica was born this day
   A little while ago
   This great event we celebrate
   Only locally though

   The Bobbsey twins were born this day
   A century ago
   This great event we celebrate
   Just us oldies though

Lines may be altered.

   Jack and Jill were wed this day
   Twenty years ago
   This great event we celebrate
   Only locally though

   Norman wed a gal named Kate
   In nineteen ninety-two
   This great event we celebrate
   With the two of you

   The Smiths embraced the married state
   In nineteen sixty-three
   This great event we celebrate
   Such tenacity!

 Valentine’s Day Ditties

        Roses Are Red


         Roses are red
         But odd ones are white
         Normal is nice
         But odd's a delight


        Roses are red
         And yellow and pink
         When you are watering
         Just add some ink

         Roses are red

         Violets are violet
         Sugar is sweet
         But ruins your diet


          Rubies Are Red

          Rubies are red
          Sapphires are blue
          These are just gems
          Nothing like you



                     Love


   Love makes the world go ‘round, they say
   Without it, then, there’d be
   On one side of the world just day
   Or night eternally

   But wait a minute, that’s not right
   That’s only part of it
   We would enjoy both day and night
   Let’s pause to think a bit

   The earth revolves around the sun
   It takes about a year
   Daylight would stretch a half-year long
   Within each hemisphere



             Christmas Ditty

   Christmas comes and Christmas goes
   Sometimes it rains, sometimes it snows
   Cards and presents make their rounds
​   And diners gain some extra pounds


                 Once A Year

   Christmas comes but once a year
   And that is fortunate
   Because more frequent Christmases
   Would be immoderate

   Imagine stringing Christmas lights
   Twice a year or more
   As well as all that extra work
   Our power bill would soar

   Think of all those Christmas trees
   Cut down and then propped up
   And then they might be chipped or burned
   Or taken to the dump

   Christmas also calls for cards
   And maybe gifts to buy
   It all takes time, if not some cash
   Both are in short supply

   Too much feasting isn't good
   Count those calories!
   Eggnog also helps a bit
   To clog your arteries

   Be thankful, then, when Christmas comes
   Only once a year
   Celebrate this special day
​   With loads of Christmas cheer