Grandma P's Ramblings Through Life

I thank both Ashley and Roger who had the good sense to look on the Internet for the full words of the poem I mentioned earlier.

Tender handed grasp a nettle,
And it stings you for your pains.
Grasp it like a man of mettle
And it soft as silk remains.

This was written by Aaron Hill who lived 1685 to 1750.

He went on to relate his philosphy towards stinging nettles to people.
People are not the same as nettles and I, like Roger who found it, do not agree with the poet.

Tis the same with common natures,
Use 'em kindly, they rebel.
But, be rough as nutmeg graters
And the rogues obey you well.

I guess I can see that some structure and boundaries are necessary in life, but I don't see that the downtrodden of this world need to be disciplined as harshly as he suggests. Perhaps it might be better to offer a gentle hand to lift them from the downtrodden state - am I in danger of sounding like a trendy lefty!

I wonder what Aaron Hill could possibly have made of the notion that people like us are sharing his poem, 250 years after his death, through the wonders of a computer