Kathleen’s Lover Poem by Dora Sigerson Shorter

I would I had a thousand tongues
To sing thy praise, to sing thy praise,
I'd teach the birds on ev'ry tree
To chorus the sweet melody,
For all my days, for all my days.
I wish I had a thousand tongues
To curse thy foe, to curse thy foe,
I'd pray each stormy wind and wave
His house to break, his ship to stave,
To lay him low, to lay him low.
I wish I had a thousands hearts
To love thee more, to love thee more,
Lest one should break before thy tears
Let others come to hush thy fears
And thee adore, and thee adore.
I wish I had a thousand hearts
To hate thy foe, to hate thy foe.
Lest one should dare in pity turn
Let others still with vengance burn
To lay him low, to lay him low.
I wish I had a thousand hands
To work for thee, to work for thee,
To bring thee fairest fruit and flower,
To pluck for thee God's golden hour,
To set thee free, to set thee free.
I wish I had a thousand hands
To strike thy foe, to strike thy foe,
I'd track him without rest or sleep,
My arm were strong, my thrust were deep
To lay him low, to lay him low.
I wish I had a thousand lives
For thee to live, for thee to live.
In foreign lands in ev'ry state
My days, my years, to make thee great
I'd freely give, so freely give.
I wish I had a thousand lives
To thee to fly, to thee to fly;
To praise, to strive, to fight, to fall,
And on thy name and God to call,
For thee to live, for thee to live.