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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MATERNAL DESPOTISM; OR, THE RIGHTS OF INFANTS, by RICHARD GRAVES First Line: Unhand me nurse! Thou saucy quean! Last Line: Enjoy complete equality. Subject(s): Boys; Children's Rights; Equality; Godwin, Mary Wollenstonecraft (1759-79); Paine, Thomas (1737-1809); Wollenstone, Mary (1759-79) | |||
UNHAND me nurse! thou saucy quean! What does this female tyrant mean? Thus, head and foot, in swathes to bind, 'Spite of the 'Rights of human kind'; And lay me stretched upon my back (Like a poor culprit on the rack); An infant, like thyself born free, And independent, slut! on thee. Have I not right to kick and sprawl, To laugh or cry, to squeak or squall! Has ever, by my act and deed, Thy right to rule me been decreed? How dar'st thou, despot! then control Th' exertions of a free-born soul? Though now an infant, when I can, I'll rise and seize 'The Rights of Man'; Nor make my haughty nurse alone, But monarchs tremble, on their throne; And boys and kings thenceforth you'll see Enjoy complete Equality. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO MARY WOLSTONECRAFT by ROBERT SOUTHEY AN INVITATION TO THE FEATHERED RACE by RICHARD GRAVES A BIRTHDAY by LOUIS UNTERMEYER ON THIS DAY I COMPLETE MY THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR by GEORGE GORDON BYRON BEFORE MARCHING, AND AFTER (IN MEMORIAM F.W.G.) by THOMAS HARDY MOUNTAIN FROLIC by GEORGE LAWRENCE ANDREWS WEDNESDAY IN Y' HOLY WEEK by JOSEPH BEAUMONT A WINTER LANDSCAPE by MATHILDE BLIND CLARE'S GHOST by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE SINGLE ERROR by VIVIAN PIKE BOLES PERSIAN [ORIENTAL] ECLOGUES: 4. AGIB AND SECANDER by WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759) |
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