Two Shades of Grey

Don't mention all the shades of grey,
Or frightened folk will make you pay.
They want things all in black and white,
Though part of them must know that's shite.

If you speak the truth they'll teach you rue,
Their blame may turn the air quite blue;
Assurance is that which they seek,
At raw truth they dare not peek.

The complex strains the people's brain,
Doubt causes them to flinch like pain;
Contention oft they dare not face,
The scoundrel's smile they treat like grace.

To bold men's lies they genuflect,
Submission makes them feel erect.
If you dare to break the ranks,
They'll sling you in the punishment tank.


Only after I had finished this outburst and was casting about for a title did I realise I had a name collision.
I couldn't remember the number of shades used in the title of a popular porno novel which is currently all the rage. All I could recall was my friends saying it was crap. (Of course we were jealous of the sales.) I didn't want to risk using the same number, so resorted to Google. I found a suitably hostile review. This informed me that the rubbishy book was not only porno but profoundly S&M, with emphasis on the joys of submission. I changed the last verse to include a 'nod' to the dirty book, which also evened up the number of lines. I called mine 'A Thousand ...' Then I had a better idea, and changed it to Two.
Of course, black, white and grey are all the same colour.