The Ugly Sister - Momus

If nations are like sisters who choose to specialize

Who talents to the girls on either side

Who vie amongst themselves for the values to prize

Great Britain when America and France had revolutions

Decided she should specialize in ancient institutions

Leaving sex and art to the French

Leaving cash and power to the states

Leaving 'Great' in her name, but forgetting to be great

Which might explain why Shakespeare is still our greatest writer

And why Lord Byron and I thumbed our noses at the ugly sister and ran away