1 Comment

1. MARJORIE TIMMER on November 11, 2020 at 11:45 am

   The first two sentences appear to me to be in conflict with the third. I believe that what the poet is trying to say is that, in return for treating other people with respect, one may expect to be treated with respect as well. Unfortunately, when Nishah is quoted, the first two sentences are usually omitted. The meaning changes, then, to “no one deserves respect until they prove (in some undefined manner) that they have earned it.”