First Impression

My apologies to these two gentlemen if they actually admired each other on sight!

FIRST IMPRESSION

(An old English rhyme)

"I do not like thee, Doctor Fell;

The reason why I cannot tell,

But this I know and know full well,

I do not like thee Doctor Fell"

The first impression means so much and I put great score by it,

In an instant we sense many things and no-one can deny it.

Does the expression seem off-key, and are the eyes too small?

Is the tone of voice, right at the start, causing your flesh to crawl?

Is the person too, too gushing; do you sense there's insincerity?

Do they wear lots of jewelry as a sign of their prosperity?

Or is it indefinable, the antipathy you feel?

Is it overpowering, though you doubt, yourself, it's real.

You just can't put your finger on that vague sense of unease,

While the newcomer in question is doing his best to please.

Your spouse says 'He's a nice chap' and yet you know he's not,

Yet you can't explain that lack of trust you know full-well you've got.

We all have heard of 'Doctor Fell' and the poet's verse confession;

He'd made his mind up in a trice from One Single Impression.

*

A view from the other side of the fence here:

http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2008/06/31-credit-rating.html