A princess of Byzantium one day Employed a fork to stab a piece of meat. She thought she’d keep her fingers clean that way, But people saw the gesture as effete; They hated her for being super-rich And hoity-toity. Plus, the Church decreed It was profane to use utensils which The Savior with His bare hands did not need. The breakthrough came in 1632 When Charles of England said it wasn’t wrong Or sissified, so people took the cue To trifurcate their tools and prong along. Now miracles in stainless steel designs Adorn our dinner tables: Modern tines. —Henry Rathvon