 | Naked Genius |  |
106
TOUCH NOT, HANDLE NOT, TASTE NOT.
If I handle I must touch,
Tho' the deed be seeming small,
Every little calls as much,
Then I must not touch at all.
Tho' the deed be seeming small,
Every little calls as much,
Then I must not touch at all.
If I taste a morsel sweet,
Appetite will covet more,
Thus I shall myself defeat,
Twenty craves another score.
Appetite will covet more,
Thus I shall myself defeat,
Twenty craves another score.
Handle not the unclean thing,
Let the blushing rose alone,
Where the insect lurks to sting,
Tho' she hums the sweetest tone.
Let the blushing rose alone,
Where the insect lurks to sting,
Tho' she hums the sweetest tone.
Life without but death within,
Never heals a wounded heart,
Beauty ends once through the skin,
From the bloom at once depart.
Never heals a wounded heart,
Beauty ends once through the skin,
From the bloom at once depart.
When I take the smallest sip,
Soon the bird of caution flies,
Self-defence breaks from my lips,
Conscience faints and virtue dies.
Soon the bird of caution flies,
Self-defence breaks from my lips,
Conscience faints and virtue dies.
You know your failure, touch but light,
Says the father to the son;
Soon a jug becomes a mite,
Start and soon the deed is done.
Says the father to the son;
Soon a jug becomes a mite,
Start and soon the deed is done.
Start a wheel once down the hill,
Down to run it cannot fail,
Raise the gate and start the mill,
Start the boat and spread the sail.
Down to run it cannot fail,
Raise the gate and start the mill,
Start the boat and spread the sail.
107
Let the stranger son alone,
Start not till you prove the end,
Tinker rare with things unknown,
And let caution be your friend.
Start not till you prove the end,
Tinker rare with things unknown,
And let caution be your friend.
Handle not the unclean thing,
Touch not, taste not of the bane,
Lest too late you feel the sting,
Lost in unabating pain.
Touch not, taste not of the bane,
Lest too late you feel the sting,
Lost in unabating pain.
| Naked Genius | |