Living

A man of words and not of deeds

by Anonymous (English nursery rhymes) traditional; recorded 17th–19th century

From The Nursery Rhymes of England, collected by J. O. Halliwell (London: Warne; first ed. 1842; this printing 1886)

Living

A man of words and not of deeds,
Is like a garden full of weeds;
And when the weeds begin to grow,
It's like a garden full of snow;
And when the snow begins to fall,
It's like a bird upon the wall;
And when the bird away does fly,
It's like an eagle in the sky;
And when the sky begins to roar,
It's like a lion at the door;
And when the door begins to crack,
It's like a stick across your back;
And when your back begins to smart,
It's like a penknife in your heart;
And when your heart begins to bleed,
You're dead, and dead, and dead, indeed.

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Halliwell's class: Proverbs.

MLA

Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “A man of words and not of deeds.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/87/.

Chicago

Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “A man of words and not of deeds.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/87/.

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