It's taken many years for me
to learn to lick my knife
and brave it out in company
despite a frowning wife

not with the aim of being rude
or trying to annoy
or any help in eating food
and certainly no joy

at others' outrage (What a fool !)
but just to give a hand
in doubting ideas learned by rule
that we don't understand.

I don't believe I'd cut my tongue,
not even if I tried,
so why was it my parents clung
to custom as a guide?

When someone told me, young and shy,
you can't wear green with blue,
despite the grass and summer sky
I thought it must be true.

Or rather didn't think at all,
just did what others do
but now I'm older comes the call
to question things  -  and you ?