Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DAUGHTER'S REBELLION, by FRANCIS HOPKINSON


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THE DAUGHTER'S REBELLION, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When fair columbia was a child
Last Line: As safely as in nurse's closet.
Subject(s): American Revolution


WHEN fair Columbia was a child,
And mother Britain on her smil'd
With kind regard, and strok'd her head,
And gave her dolls and gingerbread,
And sugar plumbs, and many a toy,
Which prompted gratitude and joy --
Then a more duteous maid, I ween,
Ne'er frisked it o'er the playful green;
Whate'er the mother said, approv'd,
And with sincere affection lov'd --
With reverence listen'd to her dreams,
And bowed obsequious to her schemes --
Barter'd the products of her garden,
For trinkets, worth more than a farthing --
And whensoe'er the mother sigh'd,
She, sympathetic daughter, cri'd,
Fearing the heavy, long-drawn breath,
Betoken'd her approaching death.
But when at puberty arriv'd,
Forgot the power in whom she liv'd,
And 'gan to make preposterous splutter,
'Bout spreading her own bread and butter,
And stubbornly refus'd t' agree,
In form, to drink her bohea-tea,
And like a base, ungrateful daughter,
Hurl'd a whole tea box in the water --
'Bout writing paper made a pother,
And dared to argue with her mother --
Contended pertly, that the nurse,
Should not be keeper of the purse;
But that herself, now older grown,
Would have a pocket of her own,
In which the purse she would deposit,
As safely as in nurse's closet.





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