The 'Pen' Is Mightier Than The Thwart Poem by Robert Sheridan

Reformatory discipline
Prisons maintained here,
there, and everywhere -
rural and in cities...
'Tis a shame and a pity;
All maintained by a much
higher authority called
the 'Grand Penitentiary'
which has jurisdiction,
or is that juxtaposition,
I always get the two
confused - although, they
mean the same - placing
close together two-by-two;
And what about Episcopal
Prisons, from Medieval Latin
pē nitentiā ria for men, and
feminine of pē nitentiā rius
for women... let's see,
that's either an inside
boyfriend, or girlfriend
(just exercising common
etiquette here) - you know,
conventional requirements
as to social behavior; and
please, whatever you do,
don't turn-on the 'penitential tears',
because there is no way that I'm
apologizing for thwarted words.
*Footnote 'house of correction'
first founded 1806 (originally an
asylum for prostitutes) . Slang
shortening pen is attested from
the year of our Lord 1884.


'2008'