To my son

John, you’ll learn by the age of four
To name yellow, blue and green
You will have some yellow dice
Yellow like grapefruits

You’ll see yellow butter-cups
Poets need them badly
You will have some yellow dice
Yellow like grapefruits

Maybe I should paint your small dice
Sulphur yellow true
I don’t know if that’s the same hue
They call London fog

You will love Post Office red
Believe me that’s for sure
You’ll use mother’s red lipstick
Believe me that’s for sure

And some day they’re gonna send you
To a red-brick school
Maybe when they think you’re ready
You will act like a fool

John, you’ll learn by the age of four ...

Beware of the teacher
Beware of your mother
Beware of the priest
Beware of your father
Beware of the boss