The Birth of 33

Clara had her ticket

She also had a rig

Because she was just startin

It wasn't very big

She slowly tuned the crystal,

And watched the meter drop.

Then tapped the key a couple times

To be sure it wouldn't stop.

Now everything was ready,

She called a short CQ

And received an answer

On thirty-six sixty -two.

They chewed the fat "bout stuff and things.

"bout dresses, work and dates.

They finally called it QRT

the girl sent eighty-eights.

Clara though it might be funny

Whether it be Miss or Mrs.

To end a perfect QSO

by sending "Love and Kisses"

It sounds too sentimental;

Just a little too much "goo"

To be sending "Love and Kisses"

to a girl the same as you.

For an entire week she pondered;

Wouldn't even touch the rig.

She pushed her slide rul by the hour,

Employing "logs" and "trig"

She added and subtracted.

What could the answer be?

To reach a happy medium

Twixt eighty-eight and seventy-three.

Clara finally looked up from her work

All smiles and not forlorn.

Twas July in Nineteen Forty

that thirty-three was born.

There's no real definition

Bit it's meaning is known well.

It's how a YL says good evening

To another friend YL.

Author Unknown.