Paternity
by Carolyn Farkas
Sir Wilfred Staveley-Stokes the First
Without his teeth,
Without his hair,
Without the mind that once was there
That conquered continents,
Enslaved Blacks,
And later charmed the Queen,
Married the Honorable Lady Cynthia Fitzhugh
And produced Willy,
Sir Wilfred Staveley-Stokes,
The second of that worthy, noble name,
Who, on the Continent,
Was entertained by Blacks,
A gypsy queen,
And one real countess.
He exceeded his father only in paunch and port.
He supported the opera, the burlesque, the theatre,
And a mime, later the Dame Elizabeth,
Whom he married for the sake of his only child,
Sir Wilfred Staveley-Stokes the Third,
Who remained continent,
Preached to the Blacks,
To Victoria the Queen denounced Greed
(But not Grandfather's wealth),
And, nearing sixty,
Did his duty to the name,
Begetting Sir Wilfred Staveley-Stokes the Fourth,
Who fought for peace on all the continents,
Married a Black,
Cursing the Queen, the Church, the Peers, and Gold,
Giving his wealth to taxes and the poor,
Retaining the title so he would be heard
Denouncing titles.
And thus it is that last month there was born
Sir Wilfred Staveley-Stokes the Fifth,
Still without teeth,
Still without hair
Still without the mind that will be there
And conquer continents.
