War Song – To England

They hain’t agoin tur be no war

     Twixt us an little Britain;

Were growed tur be the ol cat now,

     An Englan is the kitten.

Time wuz when Englan ruled the roost,

     An bossed our Yankee nation;

But now we’re growed, an ain’t afeerd

     Uv the hull blamed creation.

This poem is the senterment

     Uv Bunker Hill an Bostin;

An now I want it sent acrost

     Tur Mr. Alfred Austin.

Tur Alfred Austin laureate,

     The poet uv Great Britain;

This is the message frum the cat,

     Now let’s hear frum the kitten.

Jan. 14, ‘96

Pub. in Boston

Courier, Jan. 19,

    1896