If I Told You What I Believe

If I told you what I believe would you call me a reactionary? A liberal, a socialist or some other name?
What would you gain
By labelling me an old stick-in-the mud
Who would
Put the clock back if he could?
Is that in fact what I wish to do,
For you may my words misconstrue
And find I play a game with you!

If you read my poetry through
From cover to cover
You may discover
That my view
Is of a world full of shades of grey,
So, I say
Enjoy when I tease
But please
Do not on my words seize
And put a label on me
For I am free
And simply me.