Life, 1917-02-15 · page 9 of 42
Life — February 15, 1917 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical poem by Arthur Guiterman, published in *Life* magazine (page 253), uses Valentine's Day framing to critique American attitudes and interests during World War I. The poem affectionately catalogs what America loves: Uncle Sam, the Navy, legal institutions, doctors, and notably "our calligraphic President" (likely Woodrow Wilson). It celebrates American technology and military power (Zeppelins, submarines, Kaiser references). The decorative border features whimsical face illustrations and patriotic imagery including "U.S.A.," "HERO," "1917," and "PATRIOT"—reinforcing nationalistic sentiment during America's WWI involvement (declared April 1917). The satire is gentle: affectionate exaggeration of American pride and enthusiasm during wartime mobilization.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Valentine to the World EAR World, sweet whipping-top whose swift rotations Afford such interesting nights and days, You have so many peoples, tribes and nations With such engaging, fascinating ways, You harbor such a varied lot of souls, With hills and plains so quaintly you are quilted, So neatly you are flattened at the poles, So rakishly you keep your axis tilted, That I must send, belovéd World of mine, To you and yours this ardent Valentine. First, I adore with palpitant emotion Our Uncle Sam, that hero tried and true. I love with inexpressible emotion Our Daniels—yet I love our navy, too. Of course I likewise love our rocks and rills, Our legal codes, however antiquated, Our doctors, judges, labor unions, mills, Our citizens, both plain and hyphenated, Our dividends of sixty-five per cent., And most, our calligraphic President. Delightful World, sensational surpriser, Oh, what to me is Saturn with his rings! I love your potentates; I love your Kaiser, Your princes, sultans, caliphs, czars and kings, Your Zeppelins, your artless submarines That play their pretty tricks beneath the billows! Yes, World, though other stars have calmer scenes, I vow, in spite of all your peccadilloes And all the crimes by men upon you shoved, You are the only World I ever loved! Arthur Guiterman, comicbooks.com