IF YOU ARE TEMPTED to reveal A tale to you someone has told About another, make it pass, Before you speak, three gates of gold. These narrow gates: First, "Is it true?" Then, "Is it needful?" In your mind Give truthful answer. And the next Is last and narrowest, "Is it kind?" And if to reach your lips at last It passes through these gateways three, Then you may tell the tale, nor fear What the result of speech may be. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UPLANDS IN MAY by CARL SANDBURG ALNWICK CASTLE by FITZ-GREENE HALLECK THE ARSENAL AT SPRINGFIELD by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW LITTLE JERRY, THE MILLER by JOHN GODFREY SAXE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE: 2. SHADOW MARCH by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON |