O, to have a little house!
To own the hearth and stool and all!
The heaped up sods against the fire,
The pile of turf against the wall!
To have a clock with weights and chains
And pendulum swinging up and down!
A dresser filled with shining delph,
Speckled and white and blue and brown!
I could be busy all the day
Clearing and sweeping hearth and floor,
And fixing on their shelf again
My white and blue and speckled store!
I could be quiet there at night
Beside the fire and by myself,
Sure of a bed and loth to leave
The ticking clock and the shining delph!
Och! but I'm weary of mist and dark,
And roads where there's never a house nor bush,
And tired I am of bog and road,
And the crying wind and the lonesome hush!
And I am praying to God on high,
And I am praying Him night and day,
For a little house - a house of my own
Out of the wind's and the rain's way.
My brother in Ireland recommended this poem to me and i've found it appropriate - i am looking for a little cottage somewhere.
Ilearnd this poem at primary school x recited it to the class in 1942 x understood the meaning of it x it stayed in my memory x imagination of the old lady x I appreciated I had a good home x family
Following on from my comments regarding Old Woman of the Roads I hasten to add that I was given this to learn in a school in Bromley Kent during the war when all our regular teachers had been called up. The stand-in teacher was an actress who gave meaning to all the work she set us. Martin Swords you are incorrect in thinking that only Irish folk would understand.
I remember been taught this poem in 'St Michaels' prepariatipm school, over70 years ago. And it is still my favourite poem of all time.
Love this poem, learned it in Carnaree school about 70 years ago, and can still remember all of it.
What memories flowed over me, Reminds me of being young School our Teacher & school friends, over 60yr ago, So Beautiful can still recite,
Learned this as a child in killorglin about 70 years ago..Strangely, I always felt comfort when reciting it as I visualised being cosy out of the wind and rain.I can still recite most of it.Never recited it to my 4 Australian children so it’s about time I did.
Just so real and fine, learnt this at about 8 years of age, long time ago, brought to life again by a very special friend.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
A story about a woman's heart regardless if she be Irish, Swedish, Australian, American- most women want to build themselves a nest