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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  798. Gifts

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

James Thomson. 1834–1882

798. Gifts

GIVE a man a horse he can ride, 
  Give a man a boat he can sail; 
And his rank and wealth, his strength and health, 
  On sea nor shore shall fail. 
 
Give a man a pipe he can smoke,         5
  Give a man a book he can read: 
And his home is bright with a calm delight, 
  Though the room be poor indeed. 
 
Give a man a girl he can love, 
  As I, O my love, love thee;  10
And his heart is great with the pulse of Fate, 
  At home, on land, on sea.