Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GOD ON THE HEARTH, by KATHARINE TYNAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GOD ON THE HEARTH, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A god, a god sits on my hearth
Last Line: Nor yet forgets his starry birth.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Caregivers; God; Home


A GOD, a god sits on my hearth,
Laughs and plays with sober mirth,
Sings a small song, merry and wild,
As a bird might or a child.

As a kitten plays will play,
Or a lamb on a May day.
A happy, busy household elf
Croons a wee song to himself.

Strayed here from some Olympian hill,
This god in rose and daffodil
Yet boils my kettle, cooks my dish,
Gives savour to the meats and fish.

I stretch my chilly hands above
And like my dog he fawns in love:
Licks at me with a playful tongue
And frisks, a bright thing, merry and young.

And yet so great a god is he,
You shall approach him on your knee,
Lest that his lightnings teach you awe,
This Burning Bush that Moses saw.

He is the Ark no hand may touch,
The Lily of Light without a smutch,
The Living Rose that none may take,
Caged in a gold and thorny brake.

This holy one stays with me still,
Singing his small song merry and shrill,
And hath so many things to do,
There is no time to grieve or rue

For the great state he hath forgone,
The Lord Sun's dear companion,
Who toils and plays upon my hearth,
Nor yet forgets his starry birth.





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