Tuesday, June 7, 2016

V.D.B.



When you have done a mighty deed
    You should feel good
And fame should put you in its lead,
    Of course it should.
You should get credit, wealth and fame,
    From sea to shining sea;
If not your own and given name,
    Then V.D.B.

Just think or Binns, and all the rest,
    The fame each wins;
With more than J.B. is he blest
    It’s “brave Jack Binns!”
Just think of gallant Theodore,
    “T.R.,” is he;
This mighty Russian should get more
   Than V.D.B.

Let jealous politicians scoff,
   To rant give vent;
Those letters three must not come off
    The Lincoln cent.
Nay, let it have the whole blame’ name
    That all may see
Enlarge the penny and the fame
    Of V.D.B.!

Aug. 9, ‘09
  Published in Jocosities, as ‘The Fame of V.D.B.’, August 10, 1909

‘V.D.B.’ are the artist’s initials.
For an explanation of the controversy, see: