The Jingo-Woman - Helen Hamilton

Jingo-woman
(How I dislike you!)
Dealer in white feathers,
Insulter, self-appointed,
Of all the men you meet,
Not dressed in uniform,
When to your mind,
(A sorry mind),
They should be,
The test?
The judgment of your eye,
That wild, infuriate eye,
Whose glance, so you declare,
Reveals unerringly,
Who’s good for military service,
Oh! Exasperating woman,
I’d like to wring your neck,
I really would!
You make all women seem such duffers!
Besides exemptions,
Enforces and held reluctantly,
- Not that you’ll believe it –
You must know surely
Men there are and young men too,
Physically not fit to serve,
Who look in the civilian garb
Quite stout and hearty.
And most of whom, I’ll wager,
Have been rejected several times.
How keen, though, your delight,
Keen and malignant,
Should one offer you his seat,
In crowded bus or train,
Thus giving you the chance to say,
In cold, incisive tones of scorn:
“No, I much prefer to stand
as you, young man, are not in khaki”!
Heavens! I wonder you’re alive!
Oh, these men,
These twice-insulted men,
What iron self-control they show.
What wonderful forbearance!

But still the day may come
For you to prove yourself
As sacrificial as upbraiding.
So far they are not taking us
But if the war goes on much longer
They might,
Nay more,
They must,
When the last man has gone.
And if and when that dark day dawns,
You’ll join up first, of course,
Without waiting to be fetched.
But in the meantime,
Do hold your tongue!
You shame us women.
Can’t you see it isn’t decent,
To flout and goad men into doing,
What is not asked of you?

Helen Hamilton