I meant to have but modest needs —
Such as Content — and Heaven —
Within my income — these could lie
And Life and I — keep even —
But since the last — included both —
It would suffice my Prayer
But just for One — to stipulate —
And Grace would grant the Pair —
And so — upon this wise — I prayed —
Great Spirit — Give to me
A Heaven not so large as Yours,
But large enough — for me —
A Smile suffused Jehovah’s face —
The Cherubim — withdrew —
Grave Saints stole out to look at me —
And showed their dimples — too —
I left the Place, with all my might —
I threw my Prayer away —
The Quiet Ages picked it up —
And Judgment — twinkled — too —
Tat one so honest — be extant —
It take the Tale for true —
That “Whatsoever Ye shall ask —
Itself be given You” —
But I, grown shrewder — scan the Skies
With a suspicious Air —
As Children — swindled for the first
All Swindlers — be — infer —
(Emily Dickinson)
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Based on Topics: Heaven Poems, Place Poems, Smiling PoemsBased on Keywords: prayer, saints, suffice, modest, wise, picked, showed, honest, prayed, withdrew, scan