In her bedroom she waits, alone and apprehensive, sent there for childish crime.
In the corner she stands, face to the wall, sentenced to oncoming punishment,
knowing that the shameful scene will greatly humble her pride.
And that her chance to argue her case is pointless, her mother's word will prejudice
Her father, so that no argument, no protest, no plea, however frank
will spare her from the strap. "It is not fair", she thinks, "that I

should be condemned unheard. Why is it always I
who take the blame, I judged guilty of a crime?"
Her protests go unheard, unspoken. She dare not be so frank
To her parents – t'would only lead to harsher punishment.
Against "uppity" girls, her father has a prejudice
And he takes special measures to lessen such girls' pride.

For his girls are her father's special pride
and joy.  He often thinks, "I know that I
must teach them right from wrong, instill a prejudice
to proper behavior, and so must punish minor crime
severely, for how better will they learn then through punishment."
Today when he comes home, Xenia says, "Frank

"She needs a dose of strap, she was sassy and unruly. Frank
I will not tolerate such naughty tones, such wanton pride,
such arrogance. She needs a through punishment!"
He thinks "You had to wait, to make sure that it was I
Who used the strap to purge her of her crime?"
"Another fight with Betty? Are you sure there's no prejudice

On your part? You know you favor Betty, and that prejudice
has caused trouble enough. To be frank
(as indeed I must be)  is she guilty of such a heinous crime?
Or is it that her worst crime is that she hurt your pride?
If so, you can be very sure that I
Will see two bottoms red tonight with punishment

"Oh no, this time she's fairly earned her punishment
I do assure you." And so, convinced there was no prejudice
He climbed the stairs. She heard, and thought, "Now I
am in for it indeed." Correctly. Her father, Frank
Well strapped her rear, subdued her pride
And saw her most well punished for her crime.

And so her crime received its well-earned punishment
Without prejudice, the strap humbled her pride
Although this pained her father Frank: a tear came to his eye.