1885 Poem
Complaintant prays that she may show
how full has been her cup of woe
since her heart with love was stirred
for false and fickle Briton Bird
*
She married him in eighty - two
When roses bloomed and blossoms grew
and then with sacred vows he swore
to love and cheer me evermore
*
Miss Celia Dobbs was my name
I'm sorry tis not the same
for though the court might doubt my word
I do not wish to be a Bird.
*
At first, his love was fresh and strong
I was his light, his sun, his song
t'was all too short, his love turned cold
and he began to fret and scold
*
Next came blows and harsh abuse
and cruel licks without excuse
no meat and bread did he provide
nor clothes, my nakedness to hide
*
Three years ago -- a little more
he left me, naked, hungrey, poor
Deserted me and ran away
and so continues to this day
*
Besides these tales of cruel strife
defendant was a forgiving wife
to this petitioner unknown
when minister pronounced them one
*
She therefore prays, for the knot
the preacher tied undone, forgot,
she prays that by the laws of force
the court will grant her this divorce
*
no loss of goods is here supplied
because when hymens knot was tied
and ever since as a lack
we carried the load upon our backs
*
petitioner will ever pray
the officers will get their pay
though Kelly growls about the cost
a righteous deed is never lost
_____________________
{A divorce petition from Mayo, Florida
Supplied by LaVerne Harvey 1998, as part of our family oral history
LaVerne Harvey
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