You Never Can Tell by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The story revolves around a romantic triangle involving three main characters: Jerome, a wealthy businessman; Mabel, his fiancée; and Kate, a beautiful and charming woman who enters their lives. As the narrative unfolds, Jerome becomes increasingly enamored with Kate, leading to a tumultuous affair that threatens to destroy his engagement to Mabel.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1895 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Inspirational · 264 words
First lines
You never can tell when you send a word, / Like an arrow shot from a bow / By an archer blind, be it cruel or kind, / Just where it may chance to go! / It may pierce the breast of your dearest friend, / Tipped with its poison or balm; / To a stranger's heart in life's great mart, / It may carry its pain or its calm.
You never can tell when you do an act / Just what the result will be; / But with every deed you are sowing a seed, / Though the harvest you may not see. / Each kindly act is an acorn dropped / In God's productive soil. / You may not know, but the tree shall grow, / With shelter for those who toil.
What this Textopian page supports
You Never Can Tell is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Inspirational, Didactic
- Length: 264 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for You Never Can Tell by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse and employs rhyme and meter.
- Philosophical — The themes explore the consequences of actions and thoughts, reflecting on moral and existential questions.
- Inspirational — The content aims to inspire and motivate readers to consider the impact of their words, actions, and thoughts.
- Didactic — The work seeks to teach a moral lesson about the unpredictability and far-reaching effects of one's behavior.
Tags
Romance · Poetry · Love · Relationships · Marriage · Infidelity · Deception · Secrets · Lies · Trust · Betrayal · Heartbreak