I thought I would be prudent
When I first became a student
And I felt I should be seen and never heard
So I didn’t share my views
Or the meaning of Good News
The truth is that I hardly said a word

When a houseman I became
I began to feel the same
For there never was the time to sit and chat
And I had not time to grow
When I was an SHO
I just read for my exams and that was that

Now I am a registrar
But it’s still not very far
I need to work before my chance is gone
I can’t help in the church
‘Cos I need to do research
There’ll be time to do my good works later on

When I get to be the Prof
There’ll be time for sounding off
And I’ll share my faith in words they won’t forget
My lifestyle they’ll respect, and my motives they’ll detect
But I really can’t afford to do it yet!

(Riordan A. Poem. Nucleus 1984; 16, April)