Ask Montagues or Capulets
They’ll tell you (to their shame)
In romance or in politics
It’s all about the name
A rose by any other name
Would smell as sweet she said
A deep misunderstanding
Which then left both lovers dead
“The Word” it has been argued
Is the breath of The Divine
No wonder we’re left godless
When our reading scores decline
The list of California’s faults
Would be a long recital
But that which I will focus on
Is all about a title
Proposition 39
The text is plain to see
Aims that in elections
That the voters have I.D.
But our Attorney General
Who gets to write the heading
Doesn’t like the notion of
Secure elections spreading
I’d like to give you evidence
And here are my exhibits
The petition says “Establishes”
His version says “Prohibits”
The diff’rence may be subtle
And I won’t put that in quotes
But weighty in a state where
Your opponents count the votes
The courts will have the final say
Their words I won‘t address
But when you vote on 39
The word you want is YES