THIS I WOULD LIKE to be -- braver and bolder, Just a bit wiser because I am older, Just a bit kinder to those I may meet, Just a bit manlier taking defeat; This for the New Year my wish and my plea -- Lord, make a regular man out of me. This I would like to be -- just a bit finer, More of a smiler and less of a whiner, Just a bit quicker to stretch out my hand Helping another who's struggling to stand, This is my prayer for the New Year to be, Lord, make a regular man out of me. This I would like to be -- just a bit fairer, Just a bit better, and just a bit squarer, Not quite so ready to censure and blame, Quicker to help every man in the game, Not quite so eager men's failings to see, Lord, make a regular man out of me. This I would like to be -- just a bit truer, Less of the wisher and more of the doer, Broader and bigger, more willing to give, Living and helping my neighbor to live! This for the New Year my prayer and my plea -- Lord, make a regular man out of me. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A MOTHER TO HER SICK CHILD by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES THE SONG OF HIAWATHA: HIAWATHA'S WOOING by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW EXILED by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY THE CONFESSION by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM THE SHEPHERD'S PIPE: SEVENTH ECLOGUE by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) A PRAYER, UNDER THE PRESSURE OF ANGUISH by ROBERT BURNS SOUND IN SILENCE by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 3. THE WIND OF MAY by EDWARD CARPENTER |