I fell in love with Alice
no, not Alice in Wonderland
nor through the looking glass
though this Alice famously
admired her reflection
in shop windows
as she walked down the town.
She was not the girl next door
eponymous heroine of the
bereft Smokie who
could not face a life without her
nor the Alice in the driving
White Rabbit pounded out
by Jefferson Airplane –
rather it was
the plaintive harmonies
of the McGarrigle sisters
reviving a parlour song
about a young girl
wearing her favourite blue gown
for the first time.
Little did I know that
this Alice was no homely teenager
but an American Princess
daughter of a President
denied her name for the tragic
loss of her mother due to childbirth
her father, Teddy, unable to bear
his newborn daughter’s namesake
she was condemned to be called
Baby Lee until years later
her father soothed by
a new wife and five more children.
A feisty girl and woman
Alice Roosevelt smoked
and shot at Telegraph poles
from moving trains
but I prefer to think of
the gentler image of
the girl in the song in her
Alice Blue Gown
“Till wilted I wore it
I’ll always adore it
My sweet little Alice blue gown…”
© Andrew Wilson, 2024
Alice Roosevelt was larger-than-life character whose story you can read here. Many notable witticisms are attributed to her.
Written for dVerse Poets Pub Posted by merrildsmith in Poetics
Interesting personality and lovely gown
Much♡love
I only recently discovered the song was about a real person – and who it was… Thanks for dropping by Gillena
A white rabbit of Alices, Andrew. I love all the references in your poem.
Thanks Kim – there are many Alice’s that came to mind – I guess Alice in Wonderland made the name popular…
That you for this, Andrew. I didn’t know–or I’ve forgotten–that this song was about Alice Roosevelt. She was quite a character, and I do remember now how her gown sparked a trend. Perhaps it was mentioned in The Roosevelts series by Ken Burns.
I think we had that McGarrigles’ album.
It was a fun prompt thanks Merril…
I have never heard about this Alice, it sounds like quite a life, and amazing to start a trend…
BTW — that song by Smokie is one of the few I cannot stand.
Actually, when I started the poem I was mixing up the Smokie song with Dr Hook’s Sylvia’s Mother which I do like but I agree with you about Smokie…
One of my favorite “Presidential Daughters” …. so many wonderful books about her … her escapades, her unconventional behavior. The poem you composed is lovely, Andrew. I see her in the blue gown. [interesting every prom dress I wore in high school was designed by me, stitched by my mother .. each in a shade of blue.]
You may gather from my love of this song that I am a bit of a sentimental softie, Helen… Glad you liked it!
I didn’t know all that…. now I want to know more – thanks
I didn’t know that,,, now I want to know more – thanks
She was quite a gal, Debi…
Oh, wow! A history lesson through a wonderful poem! Loved all the Alice references. Now I must read up about ms. Roosevelt. Thanks for sharing, Andrew.
Thank you Punam – it turned out to bigger than I thought and fun too…
A literary tour..de force!
I read your poem on darkness but there was nowhere to comment and nothing about you but a very powerful poem…
Lovely poem, Andrew. You taught me some facts about Alice.
I love the song and I can’t remember how I found out who it was about, but it was fun to spread the facts, Sara…
Parents who visit their grief on their children are so unhelpful. A sad tale of which I knew nought. Loved the cultural references too.
She was quite a gal wasn’t she!
I enjoyed your poem, as well as reading through the comments section.
Thanks, Melissa, did you know the song?