Four Beers & Seven Scores Ago

Tomorrow is Abraham Lincoln's birthday -- that time of year when school children around the world don stovepipe hats, wear Amish beards, and gulp down corn dogs (Lincoln's favorite food).

Of course, it's a well known fact that Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) and Abraham Lincoln were life-long friends (or "besties," as Lincoln used to say).  At the time they met, Dickinson was working with Edgar Alan Poe in Baltimore at the Calvert Street Theater as half of the comedy duo "Izzy Sharp and Moe."  Lincoln worked at the theater as a lamp lighter. 

Dickinson and Lincoln were also drinking buddies.  They'd meet in the lobbies of hotels with popular bars (which led to the term "lobbyists"), and then spend the evening trying to get dates.  When Dickinson would strike out with a "doll" (as Lincoln used to say), Lincoln would laugh at Dickinson's lament, "Four beers, and seven scores ago...."

Dickinson wrote many poems about and/or dedicated to his friend.  One of his most famous poems about Lincoln references their nights closing down bars, "They're lonesome for they know not When" (below on the left).  Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin to write her poem "The lonesome for they know not What" (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
 
They’re lonesome for they know 
     not When –
The Barroom Exiles – plight –
Who stayed beyond the Pickup line
Some madder Weekend Night –
 
And ever since – the Keep’s last call
They strive to find – in vain –
As Herds – that ramble down the Plain
Do scramble for a mate –
 
The Blessed Spirits – got them –
Past Middle of the Night –
When Heaven – is too precious –     
     to miss –
Before – the morning Light!

By Emily Dickinson:
 
The lonesome for they know
     not What –
The Eastern Exiles – be –
Who strayed beyond the Amber line
Some madder Holiday –

And ever since – the purple Moat
They strive to climb – in vain –
As Birds – that tumble from the clouds
Do fumble at the strain –

The Blessed Ether – taught them –
Some Transatlantic Morn –
When Heaven – was too common –
     to miss –
Too sure – to dote upon!