Who would be a girl when you can be a boy?

Who would be a girl when you can be a boy
and run about with your hair standing on end:
with your nose dirty, and glasses twisted;
and with one sock up, and one sock down,
and knees: "black as the ace of spates"?

Who would be a girl when you can be a boy,
and on your way to school: play cowboys
with guns and caps, fill water-pistols down the toilet,
and dash into the playground
spraying friend and foe alike?

Who would be a girl when you can be a boy,
oblivious to time, traffic, and passers by,
and with one foot on the pavement and the other in the road,
make your way home from school - backwards,
playing marbles all the way home?

Who would be a girl when you can be a boy,
and second in command in the Harbour Gang;
and with your coat fastened at the neck,
run Batman-like through the streets;
and woe betide any other gang?

Who would be a girl when you can be a boy,
and for a month plan bonfire night,
scouring shops and alleys, and dragging home from garages
tyre’s, as heavy and as big as yourself. And with your best friend,
keep lookout for raiding parties that never arrive?

Who would be a girl when you can be a boy
and be really! really! really smart!
and jump into bed with your clothes on,
so that you don’t have to bother
with getting dressed in the morning?

Who would be a girl when you can be a boy,
and watch men at work, especially with steam-rollers.
And be a fish-mongers helper on a Saturday
without mother knowing, get paid, and run
all the way home, sniffing yuour jumper with pride?

Who would be a girl when you can be a boy
and sensing the majesty of ships on the sea,
know that it is your destiny to be a sailor;
and sit alone on the rocks, your heart aching,
as “Vanguard”, and “St. Kitts”, silently move away?

Who would be a girl when you can be a boy,
and single-handed and fearless, save your teacher
from certain death. And swell with pride when,
the teacher, mentioning you, explains to the confused,
the difference between a lumber jacket and a lumber jack?

Who would be a girl when you can be a boy
and stuff your head with knowledge when going shopping,
and flaunt it - shamelessly - item by item,
while the girl behind the counter smiles at you lovingly;
and news of your mental prowess, becomes a local legend?

Who would be a girl when you can be a boy,
and fall in love with girls?

__________
© Cormac McCloskey

Note: "Who would be a girl when you can be a boy?" was first published, by me,  on Windows Live Spaces on 6th November 2005

Modified 22nd April 2008
Modified 11th May 2009