A most radical woman named Mary
Has faith in the existence of her own innate strength
For her time, it’s an opinion most contrary
And maketh her many adversaries

She moves and mingles in circles fluent
In the lofty language of ideas
But she is still most incongruent
Her airs and graces lack, are truant

Like every literate liberal learning
Through diatribes of how corrupt Society is
For a better deal for all she’s yearning
Her passion for justice a beacon burning

Grows to detest privilege, rank and station
Those ghastly bars behind our eyes
For women’s rights she seeks vindication
Publishing a wild sensation

Its arguments are sound, sophisticated, sage
Giving elegantly eloquent expression to her thoughts
But the pamphlet nonetheless generates vast opprobrium, outrage
It offends the sensibilities and the mores of her cruel age

Saying Society enervates women of their strength replete
Mary’s verse is passionate, informed, incendiary
Saying women can be competent and women can compete
On the same plane as men, achieving the same feats

But such ideas are too advanced for the day they were incepted
They are vehemently beleaguered by the defenders of the realm
We will have to wait for centuries before Mary’s words are respected
It’s a tragedy it took so long for her wisdom to be detected