Stevie Smith, she of Not Waving But Drowning fame, was known for her witty, caustic, and enigmatic verse. This thought-provoking piece comes from Women's Poetry of the 1930s: A Critical Anthology

edited by Jane Dowson (Routledge, #8.99 paperback).

STERILISATION

By Stevie Smith (1902-1971)

Carve delinquency away,

Said the great Professor Clay.

A surgical operation is just the thing

To make everybody as happy as a king.

But the great Dostoievsky the Epilectic

Turned on his side and looked rather sceptic.

And the homosexual Mr Wilde

Sat in the sunshine and smiled and smiled.

And a similarly inclined older ghost in a ruff

Stopped reading his sonnets aloud and said 'stuff!'

And the certainly eccentric Swift, Crashawe and Donne,

Silently shook hands and thanked God they had gone.

But the egregious Professor Clay

Called on Theopompous and won the day.

And soon all our minds will be flat as a pancake,

With no room for genius exaltation or heartache.

And our children and theirs will preen, smirk and chatter,

With not even the sense to ask what is the matter.