If you trap the moment before it's ripe. Gnomic Verses. William Blake. 1908. The Poetical Works

William Blake (1757–1827). The Poetical Works. 1908.

Gnomic Verses

If you trap the moment before it’s ripe


XII IF you trap 1 the moment before it’s ripe,
The tears of repentance you’ll certainly wipe;
But if once you let the ripe moment go,
You can never wipe off the tears of woe.

Note 1. XII 1 trap] catch MS. 1st rdg. del. 4 You can] You’ll MS. 1st rdg. del. [back]