Poem: “Four-Leaf Clover” By Ella Higginson

I know a place where the sun is like gold,
And the cherry blooms burst with snow,
And down underneath is the loveliest nook,
Where the four-leaf clovers grow.

One leaf is for hope, and one is for faith,
And one is for love, you know,
And God put in another for luck –
If you search, you will find where they grow.

But you must have hope, and you must have faith,
You must love and be strong – and so –
If you work, if you wait, you will find the place
Where the four-leaf clovers grow.

II

God then made man.
The Italian for their beauty.
The French for fine food.
The Swedes for intelligence.
The Jews for religion.
And on and on until He looked at what
He had created, and said:

“This is all very fine but no one is having fun.
I guess I’ll have to make me an Irishman.”

III

God bless the corners of this house
And be the lintel blest,
And bless the hearth and bless the board,
And bless each place of rest,
And bless each door that opens wide
To stranger as to kin,
And bless each crystal window pane
That lets the starlight in,
And bless the rooftree overhead
And every sturdy wall.

The peace of man, the peace of God, the peace of love on all.