The following poem was written by my Mother's younger sister around 1922. Jessie was born on a cattle ranch north of Arriba, Colorado. She lived there until she married Ralph Switzer. Soon after, they moved to Modesto, California.
TO PAPA
Dear Daddy, I'm in California - and feeling most awful strange.
I'm full of uneasy emotions - like a motherless calf on the range.
To tell you the truth, dear Daddy - your girl's most decided blue,
while thinking about the ranch - the horses, and of you.
I wonder whatever brought us - to this state of merciless heat,
Where months - not a sprinkle of rain - to settle the dust in the street.
I long for the roar of the thunder - to see the bright lightening flash,
to have rain pour in torrents - with plenty of vigor and dash.
I long for snow storms in winter - the wind piling drifts deep and high,
and for miles of snow covered prairie - beneath a frosty, starlit sky.
For here in the months of winter - are days of unending fog,
and the cold rain, drizzling for days, - would freeze the hair off a dog.
I long for the wide open ranges - with horses and cattle galore,
for here there's a heard of two milk cows - enclosed in a lot two by four.
I'd like a good breakfast of beefsteak - home cooked chicken would do,
for here - it's pears, peaches and berries - figs, grapes and apricot stew.
Some day, when our toils are over - and we're gathered at home up above,
I hope 'twill be like Colorado - the dear old state that I love.
Jessie Lucore Switzer
