Paternity by Carolyn Farkas

 

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.