I like the old-fashioned idea of hanging a framed prayer or poem near a home’s entrance to bless the house, so I was happy to find this hand-written blessing that’s probably sixty years old at a Brooklyn flea market this past Saturday. I’ve seen the following verse on plaques before, but never written it down. You can type it in a fancy font and print it for yourself or anyone moving into a new house. It’s a goodie.

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 the 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.

If you love this sort of thing as much as I do, you should know that June Cotner, author of several books on blessings and prayers, has a whole text of verse for the home:“House Blessings.”