Political poetry has always been a part of America.
Address to Lord Lovelace
NJ Governor Lewis Morris, March 12, 1708/9
If th’ Addressers are Angry ‘tis by no means unfit
That at once they discharge both their Spleen and their witt,
Since the Town is obliged they’le thank ‘em no less
For a Scurvy Lampoon than a Fawning Address;
They’re both helps to discourse, and though never so mean
The world can discern ‘twixt the Witt and the Spleen;
And Honest Will Bradford is not so Morose
But he’le publish their Talents in Verse and in Prose;
That the Town mayn’t be wanting to render due praise
To those who So justly meritts the Bayes.
As Ravens and Night-owls their Voices betray
So Asses are certainly known when they bray.
And Spight of the Noise and bustle they’ve made
Mankind will believe that a Spade is a Spade.
That Bullies and Bankrupts, and Men without Store
Dull wretches that have not one Virtue or More,
The Pests of the Country, whose Practice has been
To flatter the Governor, and Lie to the Queen,
Have right to no favour in a Well-govern’d State
But to Swing in an Halter, or peep through a Grate.
ThanQ! I wonder how many Governors today could write poetry so well.