21 OCTOBER 1995, Page 46

Song of Innocence and Inexperience

Thus innocent and experienced, Those twins of self-regard Young Arrogance and Diffidence Died in their own back yard. While Diffidence thought Arrogance Inordinately proud, Arrogance thought Diffidence Simperingly cowed.

Diffidence with a carving knife Hid by the garden shed, Fought Arrogance and then himself Until the bushes bled.

Duncan Forbes