“Read through my pages.”
Call me a thief
Or a man with a gift
Whichever it is
Do not make it final
Till you’ve had an encounter with me
Call me foolish
Call me wise
Whichever it is
Do not make it final
Till you’ve weighed my actions
Call me hearty
Call me quiet
Whichever it is
Do not make it final
Till you get to know me
Call me wicked
Call me kind
Whichever it is
Do not make it final
Till you’ve heard my story
Call me a sinner
Call me a saint
Whichever it is
Do not make it final
Till you’ve walked where I’ve walked
Call me ugly
Call me beautiful
Whichever it is
Do not make it final
Till you’ve spent enough time with me
Do not conclude by my cover
Read through my pages.
Significance
The poem highlights the importance of withholding judgment until a deeper understanding is achieved. It emphasizes that initial perceptions can be misleading and urges the reader to take the time to truly know a person by experiencing their actions, hearing their story, and understanding their journey. The poem advocates for empathy, open-mindedness, and the recognition that people are multifaceted and cannot be fully understood or fairly judged based on superficial impressions.
