Whiteley Lumb was a local poet – born in Ripponden – and a member of the Calder Valley Poets' Society
He wrote several poems for the postcards published by Lilywhite's.
One of these – Farewell to Bogden – was written in 1924 for a souvenir postcard published on the occasion of the flooding of Bogden when the Ryburn Reservoir was created for Wakefield Corporation
Only the first 2 verses appeared on the postcardSweet Bogden, thou art dear to me, I write thy name with grateful tears, And bid a sad farewell to thee, Thou bonny gem of former years. No wind so sweet as that which blew Across the vale I loved so well, While words may bid thee sad adieu My heart with thee will ever dwell. There may be fairer spots on earth: There may be sweeter lands above: There may be mines of greater worth But 'tis for three I cry, I love: Then in thy woods no child will play, No birds, no flowers, no tracks be there, No ferns, no trees, there wealth display, There's nought but water everywhere! The rugged pathway up the hill That to the church our footsteps took: The cottage and the ruined mill, The valley and the rippling brook Are all destroyed by man's decree Made tenants of a watery grave, A small Atlantis hid from me, An Eden which I cannot save. When o'er thy ruined heart there lies The tears of heaven to cover thee, Gloom, like a night, will veil the skies And hide thee from the world and me. I'm glad I knew thee at thy best, When thou art gone beyond recall, May beauty dwell within thy breast The native beauty of thy soil.
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