Familiarity some claim <br /> Can breed contempt, <br />So from it let it be your aim <br /> To be exempt. <br />Let no one exercise his brawn <br /> To slap your back, <br />Lest he forget your name is John, <br /> And call you Jack. <br /> <br />To those who crash your private pew <br /> Be sour as krout; <br />Don't let them see the real 'you,' <br /> And bawl you out. <br />Don't call your Cousin William--Bill, <br /> But formal be. <br />Have care! Beware and shun famil-- <br /> Iarity. <br /> <br />I'm quite polite. My hat I doff <br /> But little say. <br />I give the crowd the big brush-off, <br /> And go my way. <br />To common folk I do not freeze, <br /> I am no snob: <br />But though my name is Robert, please <br /> Don't call me BOB.<br /><br />Robert William Service<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/familiarity/
