Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONNET FOR 'THE GERM', by WILLIAM MICHAEL ROSSETTI


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONNET FOR 'THE GERM', by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When whoso merely hath a little thought
Last Line: Truth is a circle, perfect, great or small?
Subject(s): Truth


When whoso merely hath a little thought
Will plainly think the thought which is in him—
Not imaging another's bright or dim,
Not mangling with new words what others taught;
When whoso speaks, from having either sought
Or only found—will speak, not just to skim
A shallow surface with words made and trim,
But in that very speech the matter brought:
Be not too keen to cry—"So this is all!—
A thing I might myself have thought as well,
But would not say it, for it was not worth!"
Ask: "Is this truth?" For is it still to tell
That, be the theme a point or the whole earth,
Truth is a circle, perfect, great or small?





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