Well, I couldn’t see the need to be
Quite so gender-free;
And I used to think there’s nothing
wrong with using “he” or “she;”
Why, I’d say “Miss” and “Missus”
As callow as can be,
(And open doors for ladies
Out of sexist chivalry!)
Yes, “chairman” was just fine with me
And I had never found
As good a word as “mankind”--
A collective human noun.
But I am not a sexist now—
As in my former days—
And I believe all chauvinists
Should mend their evil ways.
We shall forsake all gender
When our sexist age is ended
And use just simply “persons,”
So no one is offended.
Why consider “men” and “women”—
They’re as sexist as can be!
(For ‘Persons” and “Wo-persons”
Are truly gender free.)
“Manhole “covers won’t be found
In any city street—
Think of them as “personholes.”
(That’s neutral and discreet.)
Was it: “Peace on Earth,
Goodwill to Men.”
Those angels dared to sing?
(For “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Persons”
Has a better ring.)
“Person your battle-stations!”
Will be the Admiral’s cry
When those old nasty sexist days
Have finally passed us by.
And the first man (“person”) on
The moon—
That naughty astronaut—
Brought gender into outer space
When he spoke that sexist rot:
“One small step for man,” he said
“One leap for all mankind.”
(I’ll bet those liberated few Blew their collective mind!)
For had this sexist astronaut
Been a bit refined,
“'Twould’ve been a step for “person”
And a leap for “personkind.”
And those sexist automakers
Must make a firm decision
To neutralize the gender of
Their “manual” transmission.
Lest, through undue sexist bent
Our legal system totter,
Rename the crime for killing—
And call it “personslaughter.”
To spare those vocal feminists
From further cause to worry
We’ve made it mandatory that
“Forepersons” lead each jury.
Well, I believe each “person”
Should have the right to say
Whatever “he/she” wants to
In “his/her” separate way.
Whether “person” or “woperson,”
Each should be quite free
To walk and talk in “personkind”
With all impunity.
But for me, well, I’m no sexist
(I’ll refrain from “he” or “she-ing)
‘Cause I just simply want to be
A good “huperson being!”
“His newest book, The Wind and the Spirit (Stories of Faith and Inspiration)” was released in 2011 with all the author’s royalties go to support the Carmelite sisters.”