Knowing Where the Goat is Tied

“Nobody can get your goat
If they don’t know
Where it is tied!”
I heard said
Numerous times
As I was growing up.
Another way of saying
That commonality is
“If they don’t know
What bothers you,
They won’t know how
To get under your skin!”
I question that wisdom.
We may try to hide
Our sore spots,
But it seems as if
Others know almost by instinct
What irritates us,
Especially if they are our mate,
And they seem do that thing
That drives us up the wall
Every chance they get.
How else can they
Get our attention?