A Young Militant

Pa thinks I don’t amount to much,

     An’ mother thinks the same;

The value they have put on me

     Is really quite a shame.

They think my judgment isn’t good,

     And disbelieve my word;

And when I try to talk they say,

     “Be seen and not be heard”.

Pa is a sport, a baseball fan

     And talks it day and night;

It’s either that or politics,

     And he is always right.

And mother she’s a suffragette,

     And argues night and day;

She has no time to fuss with me,

     I’m only in the way.

Of course I don’t amount to much,

     How could I when all day

They argue suffer votes, and ball,

     And politics, I say?

But they will have to notice me,

     I’m going to ‘dopt their line;

I’m going to take a baseball bat

     And smash ma’s votin’ sign!

c. July 8, 1912