The Ugly Sister

If nations are like sisters who choose to specialize
Who talents to the girls on either side
Who vie amongst themselves for the values to prize
Great Britain when America and France had revolutions
Decided she should specialize in ancient institutions
Leaving sex and art to the French
Leaving cash and power to the states
Leaving 'Great' in her name, but forgetting to be great
Which might explain why Shakespeare is still our greatest writer
And why Lord Byron and I thumbed our noses at the ugly sister and ran away