Queen Elizabeth And Me

Dedicated to the great Cincinnati artist and friend of Mary Cassatt, Elizabeth Nourse 1859-1938
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I was at an auction house in New York City, in the Fall of seventy eight;
It was Monday morning, they had a preview, of a very fine estate!
The auction was Wednesday evening, I surely planned attend;
To buy some fine old paintings, for as little as I had spend!
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There were hundreds of them showing, from floor to ceiling hung;
Those too high for inspection, you’d climb a ladder’s rungs!
I spotted one way up there, of a Mother and a Child;
When I climbed up and saw the signature, my heart was beating wild!
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For it was painted by Elizabeth Nourse, an artist of Cincinnati fame;
But the catalogue said “Belgian School”, they could not read her name!
The estimate was ridiculous, four to six hundred bucks;
It was worth more than twenty times that, I prayed I’d have some luck!
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For two days I was sweating, finally came Wednesday night;
I was sure someone would know her, and it would be a real dog fight!
I was prepared to go seven thousand, for I knew I could get ten;
I did not have to wait long, lot fifty four they called to vend!
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I bid to six hundred fifty, waiting for the war to surely start;
But then I heard them say “Sold”, as I fought to control my heart!
I flew home and got ten thousand, from an investor that I knew;
Elizabeth Nourse from Cincinnati, I was so excited to have met you!