You Don't Want to Know!

If you would, in your manners, be right,
and, conversing, bring only delight,
you'll not ask for the truth
(a blunder uncouth),
which just forces a fib or a fight!

So...

• Don't ask a waiter what's in a sauce.
• Don't ask your doctor how long you've got.
• Don't ask your divorce lawyer whether you're in the right.
• Don't ask your teen-age daughter whether she's had sex.
• Don't ask your teen-age son...anything.
• Don't ask your father about the war, his love life, or global warming.
• Don't ask your mother if she loves you more than she loves your brother.
• Don't ask your dog whether he's been rolling in shit.
• Don't ask your cat where he's stashed his latest kill.
• Don't ask anyone what they think of bankers, the economic recovery initiatives, or the health care system.
• Don't ask a long-time friend whether you've gotten old.
• Don't ask your spouse whether anything you do is irritating.

...and so on.

I admire the way you've used tact
to forge a societal pact:
as big fibs and small lies
are life's pleasing disguise,
you all happily take them for fact.