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Martha on the US Stamp
My theme is, “Martha Washington – but why?”
First Lady – how the Big Man’s wife behaves
was fixed by her: so Jackie Kennedy
was shaped by Martha. Coming through the rye,
we learn that some are heroes, others knaves,
and some deserve to live in infamy
but end up famous. Think of “Family Guy”,
the David Hasselhofs, the Flavor Flavs,
or Arnold (Benedict), or Syngman Rhee.
So what did Martha do, that I decry?
She prompted no contumely, made no waves:
she didn’t do a thing – and there’s the key.
She didn’t change the world. She didn’t try.
The wealth you didn’t earn is what depraves:
one of Virginia’s wealthiest was she!
The only thing her husbands did was die.
Though not exactly dancing on their graves,
she certainly enjoyed her liberty
and dead men’s money. Didn’t have to buy
a toothpick. Bricks and mortar, horses, slaves –
she got the lot. And slowly, by degree,
she handed down (for Martha was on high)
the stuff that each descendant always craves –
the loot. It went to Robert Edward Lee.
Copyright ©
Michael Coy
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