REPRISAL

Sister Susie's sittin’ knittin’

Sweaters, wristlets, scarfs, an’ socks;

She ai n't “sewin’ shirts for soldiers”

‘ Cause she got so many knocks

From th’ papers‘ bout her sewin’ —

Now she's knittin’ pounds of yarn

Into things to send away.... Well,

I do n't care,

Do n't care a darn!

Has n't knit no scarf or sweater,

Has n't made no socks for me;

Little brother, he can rustle

For himself alone, you see!

Maw is on the Help Committee,

Paw is drillin’ with th’ Guard;

Brother's soldierin’ — and sister's

Knittin’ fast

An’ awful hard!

No, they wo n't pay me no‘ tention,

So I'm goin’ to run away,

Join th’ army as a — as a

Bellboy, may be, without pay.

Then I'll get a scarf an’ sweater

And some socks, soon as I go,

From some other feller's sister

That I do not

Even know.