Fitzgerald, two autograph manuscript poems, 1931 and 1937

FITZGERALD, F. SCOTT

Two autograph manuscript poems signed ("F Scott Fitzgerald")

the first, commencing "Oh papa - | My papa -", 16 lines in four quatrains, with autograph dedication "For Mary MacArthur", signed and dated 13 February 1931; the second, written on the verso, entitled "Addenda (seven years later)" and commencing "What shall I do with this bundle of stuff", 24 lines in three stanzas, signed and dated Nyack, [New York], 1937; green ink, 2 pages, small 4to (206 x 175 mm), rough edge on one side, a few very small and light stains and fingerprints

A PAIR OF CHARMING POEMS WRITTEN FOR THE YOUNG DAUGHTER OF LITERARY FRIENDS. Mary McArthur (1930-49) was the daughter of playwright Charles MacArthur, who served as one of the models for Dick Diver in Tender is the Night, and the famous actress Helen Hayes. This sing-song of a verse reads in full:

"'Oh papa -- / My papa -- / Say papa' -- So! / 'Is papa / Your papa / My papa' / No! / So spoke you -- / Why joke you? / Just for to-day / Our word is / (Like birdie's) / Plenty to say.'" Boldly signed and dated Feb 13, 1931.

Years later, Fitzgerald visits his old friends at their home in the suburbs of New York City and jots down "Addenda (seven years later)." This second poem to the young MacArthur offspring is penned on the verso of the same sheet, although much longer at three stanzas of eight lines each:

"What shall I do with this bundle of stuff / Mass of ingredients, handful of grist / Tenderest evidence, thumb-print of lust / Kindly advise me, O psychologist / She shall have music -- we pray for the kiss / Of the God's on her forehead, the necking of fate / How in the hell shall we guide her to this / ' -- Just name her Mary and age her till eight.'

What of the book? Do we feed her our bread / of the dead, that was left in their tombs long ago / Or should all the fervor and freshness be wed / To next year's inventions/ Can anyone know? /How shall we give her that je ne sais quoi - / Portions of mama that seem to be right / Salted with dashes of questionable pa? / ' -- Age her till eight and then save me a bite.'

Solve me this dither, O wisest of lamas, / Pediatrician - beneficent buddy / Tell me the name of a madhouse for mammas / Or give me the nursery - let her have the study / How can i pay back this heavenly loan / Answer my question and name your own fee / Plan me a mixture of Eve and St. Jona / '-- Put her in pigtails and give her to me.'"

Signed at the bottom "F Scott Fitzgerald, Nyack 1937." Fitzgerald maintained his relationship with Hayes and MacArthur, and his daughter Scottie vacationed with the couple later in 1937.

LITERATURE:

F. Scott Fitzgerald, Poems 1911 - 1940, ed. Matthew J. Bruccoli (Bloomfield Hills and Columbis: Bruccoli Clark, 1981), pp. 143 and 148-9; Helen Hayes and Lewis Funke, A Gift of Joy (New York: Evans, 1965), pp. 193 and 194-5

Please see shipping calculator link: click here.