Republic， your cool hands On my schoolgirl shoulders.

    Not sure what allegiances meant Until the vows¹ were held by heart，By memory， by rote²， by benign³ betrothal⁴.

    Republic， you were mine， I knew Because of Mother's religious pamphlets：Lindsay for Mayor.

    McGovern for President.

    How to Register Voters.

    I didn't ever want to go to school On Saturdays. The baby-sitter said If Nixon won， I'd have to go. Me，Your most cherished child bride.

    I wanted a white communion dress Like the ones the Catholic girls wore.

    Republic， you know I wanted to play Cards with Mother. Mother smoking Marlboros， watching Watergate all week.

    Citizen Mother all consumed at that confessional.

    I liked the name Betsy Ross.

    I liked the idea of sewing flags.

    I liked the tattered⁵ textbook about the colonies.

    So tender， so tender. My Republic，I am pledged by my childish troth So strangely to you.