I asked a thief to steal me a peach: He turned up his eyes. I asked a lithe lady to lie her down: Holy and meek, she cries. As soon as I went An angel came. He winked at the thief And smiled at the dame- And without one word said Had a peach from the tree, And still as a maid Enjoyed the lady.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Social labels fail to judge actions; nature or spirit transcends moral categorization.
- In plain terms
- An angel treated a thief and a lady without judging their labels.
- What can you take from it?
- Do not judge people by their social labels.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you judge people by roles or actions?
- What does this story say about society?
Another view
The poem uses fantasy to make a point that is hard to apply literally.
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