English poem
Kamatu San And ’Lizabeth Ann
by Nora Archibald Smith (1859–1934)
O Kamatu San, Afar in Japan, Oh, a brown little girl is she; But ’Lizabeth Ann In west Michigan, Is as fair as a child can be.
O Kamatu goes As gay as a rose, In satin and silk all day; Her slippers disclose Poor ’Lizabeth’s toes And cotton’s her modest array.
In Kamatu’s land A festival grand, Is held for the dolls in March, And dances are planned Where the cherry trees stand, Or under the cedar and larch.
In ’Lizabeth’s state, Though wealthy and great, No dollie has any such joys. Ah! ’tis a hard fate To live at this date, In a country so careless of toys!
Yet ’Lizabeth Ann And Kamatu San, In loving their dollies agree; So dolls in Japan, Or in west Michigan Can be happy with either, you see.