Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DESIRE, by KATHARINE TYNAN



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DESIRE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Give me no mansions ivory white
Last Line: Just four years old.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
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.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net