Profane Poet

In olden days if you were rash
    Enough to print a swear,
You used a letter and a dash
    To indicate your "dare";
The Grandmama would shake her head,
    Ad Cousin May would blush,
And if the cuss-word father said
    Mama would murmur: "Hush."

But nowadays in printer's ink
    If I said dash and hang,
And asterisk, the ladies think
    My verse is lacking tang.
The naughty words I must express -
    Ah! things get wuss and wuss:
A poem's not complete unless
    It coruscates a cuss.

Well, to the fair sex I comply,
    Though sadly  am I loth;
To no sweet dame could I deny
    A good old-fashioned oath.
A bard of bald profanity
    Reluctantly I am. . . .
Reproachful Reader, pity me -
    Oh blast and dash and d--n!