Sunlight Soap

You can use it with great pleasure and ease
Without wasting any elbow grease;
And when washing the most dirty clothes
The sweat won't be dripping off your nose
You can wash your clothes with little rubbing
And without scarcely any scrubbing;
And I tell you once again without any joke
There's no soap can surpass Sunlight Soap;
And believe me, charwomen one and all,
I remain yours truly, the Poet McGonagall.

Historical Notes

This poem was written during McGonagall's brief attempt to make his living through advertising after the Dundee magistrates had forbidden his rowdy public performances in the interests of public order (as well as literary sensibilities!). Sunlight Soap had been granted a Royal Warrant, so they were surely worthy of an endorsement from the "Queen's Poet".

He was richly rewarded for his efforts, receiving a fee of two guineas from the manufacturers. On receipt of this princely sum he wrote in reply:

Gentlemen you have my best wishes, and I hope
That the poem I've written about Sunlight Soap
Will cause a demand for it in every clime
For I declare it to be superfine.
And I hope before long , without any joke,
You will require some more of my poems about Sunlight Soap.
And in conclusion, gentlemen, I thank ye-
William McGonagall, Poet, 48 Step Row, Dundee.

Whatever effect he had on sales in far flung corners of the Empire, McGonagall's offer of more poems in praise of Sunlight Soap sadly does not appear to have been taken up.