Explore "We Must Send Them out to Play" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Now much there is need of doing must not be done in haste; / But slowly and with patience, as a jungle is changed to a town. / But listen, my brothers, listen; it is not always so: / When a murderer's hand is lifted to kill, there is no time to waste; / And the way to change his purpose is first to knock him down / And teach him the law of kindness after you give him the blow.
The acorn you plant in the morning will not give shade at noon; / And the thornless cactus must be bred by year on year of toil. / But listen, my brothers, listen; it is not ever the way, / For the roots of the poison ivy plant you cannot pull too soon; / If you would better your garden and make the most of your soil, / Hurry and dig up the evil things and cast them out to-day.