Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE DESIRE by KATHARINE TYNAN

First Line: GIVE ME NO MANSIONS IVORY WHITE
Last Line: JUST FOUR YEARS OLD.
Subject(s): CHILDREN; DESIRE; GOD; PRAYER; CHILDHOOD;

GIVE me no mansions ivory white,
Nor palaces of pearl and gold;
Give me a child for all delight,
Just four years old.

Give me no wings of rosy shine,
Nor silken raiment, fold on fold;
Give me a little boy all mine,
Just four years old.

Give me no gold and starry crown,
Nor harps, nor palm-branches unrolled;
Give me a nestling head of brown,
Just four years old.

Give me a cheek that's like the peach,
Two arms to clasp me from the cold;
And all my heaven's within my reach,
Just four years old.

Dear God, You give me from Your skies
A little heaven, all mine, to hold,
As Mary once her Paradise,
Just four years old.



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