Songs Of Innocence. Holy Thursday : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 19 HOLY THURSDAY Twas on a Holy Thursday their innocent faces clean The children walking two & two in red & blue & green Grey headed beadles walkd before with wands as white as snow Till into the high dome of Pauls they...
Songs Of Experience. Holy Thursday : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 33 HOLY THURSDAY Is this a holy thing to see, In a rich and fruitful land, Babes reducd to misery, Fed with cold and usurous hand? Is that trembling cry a song? Can it be a song of joy? And so many children poor? It is...
Songs Of Experience. Earth's Answer : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 31 EARTH'S ANSWER. Earth rais'd up her head, From the darkness dread & drear, Her light fled: Stony dread! And her locks cover'd with grey despair. Prison'd on watry shore Starry Jealousy does keep my den Cold and hoar...
Songs Of Experience. A Little Boy Lost : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 50 A LITTLE BOY LOST Nought loves another as itself Nor venerates another so, Nor is it possible to Thought A greater than itself to know: And Father, how can I love you, Or any of my brothers more? I love you like...
Songs Of Innocence. The Blossom : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 11 THE BLOSSOM. Merry Merry Sparrow Under leaves so green A happy Blossom Sees you swift as arrow Seek your cradle narrow Near my Bosom. Pretty Pretty Robin Under leaves so green A happy Blossom Hears you sobbing sobbing...
Songs Of Experience. A Little Girl Lost : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 51 A LITTLE GIRL LOST Children of the future Age, Reading this indignant page; Know that in a former time, Love! sweet Love! was thought a crime. In the Age of Gold, Free from winters cold: Youth and maiden bright...
Songs Of Experience. The School Boy : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 53 THE SCHOOL-BOY I love to rise in a summer morn, When the birds sing on every tree; The distant huntsman winds his horn, And the sky-lark sings with me. O! what sweet company. But to go to school in a summer morn, O! it...
Songs Of Innocence. The Little Boy Lost : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 13 THE LITTLE BOY LOST Father, father, where are you going O do not walk so fast. Speak father, speak to your little boy Or else I shall be lost, The night was dark no father was there The child was wet with dew. The mire...
Songs Of Innocence. Infant Joy : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 25 INFANT JOY I have no name I am but two days old.-- What shall I call thee? I happy am Joy is my name, Sweet joy befall thee! Pretty joy! Sweet joy but two days old. Sweet joy I call thee: Thou dost smile. I sing...
Songs Of Experience. The Human Abstract : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 47 THE HUMAN ABSTRACT. Pity would be no more, If we did not make somebody Poor: And Mercy no more could be, If all were as happy as we: And mutual fear brings peace: Till the selfish loves increase. Then Cruelty knits...
Songs Of Innocence. The Little Black Boy : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 9 THE LITTLE BLACK BOY. My mother bore me in the southern wild, And I am black, but O! my soul is white, White as an angel is the English child: But I am black as if bereav'd of light. My mother taught me underneath a tree...
Songs Of Experience. The Sick Rose : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 39 THE SICK ROSE O Rose thou art sick. The invisible worm, That flies in the night In the howling storm: Has found out thy bed Of crimson joy: And his dark secret love Does thy life destroy.
Songs Of Innocence. Nurse's Song : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 24 NURSE'S SONG When the voices of children are heard on the green And laughing is heard on the hill, My heart is at rest within my breast And everything else is still Then come home my children, the sun is gone down...
Songs Of Experience. London : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 46 LONDON I wander thro' each charter'd street, Near where the charter'd Thames does flow And mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness, marks of woe. In every cry of every Man, In every Infants cry of fear, In every...
Songs Of Innocence. The Shepherd : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 5 THE SHEPHERD. How sweet is the Shepherds sweet lot, From the morn to the evening he strays: He shall follow his sheep all the day And his tongue shall be filled with praise. For he hears the lambs innocent call. And he...
Songs Of Innocence. The Ecchoing Green : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 6 THE ECCHOING GREEN The Sun does arise, And make happy the skies. The merry bells ring, To welcome the Spring. The sky-lark and thrush, The birds of the bush, Sing louder around, To the bells chearful sound, While our...
Songs Of Experience. My Pretty Rose Tree : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 43 MY PRETTY ROSE TREE A flower was offerd to me: Such a flower as May never bore. But I said I've a Pretty Rose-tree, And I passed the sweet flower o'er. Then I went to my Pretty Rose-tree: To tend her by day and by night...
Songs Of Experience. The Tyger : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 42 THE TYGER Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skies, Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he...
Songs Of Experience. A Poison Tree : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 49 A POISON TREE. I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow. And I waterd it in fears, Night In the morning glad I see, My foe outstretchd...
Songs Of Innocence. Spring : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 22 SPRING Sound the Flute! Now it's mute. Birds delight Day and Night. Nightingale In the dale Lark in Sky Merrily Merrily Merrily to welcome in the Year Little Boy Full of joy. "Little" p. 23 Little Girl Sweet and small...
Songs Of Innocence. Night : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 20 NIGHT The sun descending in the west, The evening star does shine, The birds are silent in their nest, And I must seek for mine, The moon like a flower, In heavens high bower; With silent delight, Sits and smiles...
Songs Of Experience. The Chimney Sweeper : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 37 THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER A little black thing among the snow: Crying weep, weep, in notes of woe! Where are thy father & mother? say? They are both gone up to the church to pray. Because I was happy upon the heath...
Songs Of Innocence. Introduction : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 4 INTRODUCTION Piping down the valleys wild Piping songs of pleasant glee On a cloud I saw a child. And he laughing said to me. Pipe a song about a Lamb: So I piped with merry chear, Piper pipe that song again-- So I piped...
Songs Of Innocence. The Divine Image : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 18 THE DIVINE IMAGE. To Mercy Pity Peace and Love, All pray in their distress: And to these virtues of delight Return their thankfulness. For Mercy Pity Peace and Love, Is God our father dear: And Mercy Pity Peace and Love...
Songs Of Innocence. A Cradle Song : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 16 A CRADLE SONG Sweet dreams form a shade, O'er my lovely infants head. Sweet dreams of pleasant streams, By happy silent moony beams Sweet sleep with soft down, Weave thy brows an infant crown. Sweet sleep Angel mild...
Songs Of Experience. The Clod And The Pebble : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 32 THE CLOD But for another gives its ease, And builds a Heaven in Hells despair. So sang a little Clod of Clay, Trodden with the cattles feet; But a Pebble of the brook, Warbled out these metres meet. Love seeketh only...
Songs Of Innocence. The Little Boy Found : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 14 THE LITTLE BOY FOUND The little boy lost in the lonely fen, Led by the wand'ring light, Began to cry, but God ever nigh, Appeard like his father in white. He kissed the child & by the hand led And to his mother brought...
Songs Of Innocence. The Chimney Sweeper : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 12 THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER When my mother died I was very young, And my father sold me while yet my tongue, Could scarcely cry weep weep weep weep. So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep. Theres little Tom Dacre, who cried...
Songs Of Innocence. Laughing Song : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 15 LAUGHING SONG, When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy And the dimpling stream runs laughing by, When the air does laugh with our merry wit, And the green hill laughs with the noise of it. When the meadows...
Songs Of Innocence. The Lamb : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 8 THE LAMB Little Lamb who made thee Dost thou know who made thee Gave thee life & bid thee feed, By the stream Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing wooly bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all...
Songs Of Experience. The Voice Of The Ancient Bard : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 54 THE VOICE OF THE ANCIENT BARD. Youth of delight come hither, And see the opening morn, Image of truth new born. Doubt is fled & clouds of reason, Dark disputes & artful teazing. Folly is an endless maze. Tangled roots...
Songs Of Experience. The Angel : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 41 THE ANGEL I Dreamt a Dream! what can it mean? And that I was a maiden Queen: Guarded by an Angel mild: Witless woe, was neer beguil'd! And I wept both night and day And he wip'd my tears away And I wept both day...
Untitled : * This is a fascimile reproduction, along with transcribed text, of William Blake's masterpiece of bookmaking, Songs of Innocence and of Experience. These poems are one of the treasures of world literature, simple enough to resonate with children, but with enough exoteric and esoteric meaning...
Songs Of Experience. The Garden Of Love : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 44 THE GARDEN OF LOVE I went to the Garden of Love. And saw what I never had seen: A Chapel was built in the midst, Where I used to play on the green. And the gates of this Chapel were shut, And Thou shalt not, writ over...
Songs Of Experience. To Tirzah : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 52 TO TIRZAH Whate'er is Born of Mortal Birth, Must be consumed with the Earth To rise from Generation free: Then what have I to do with thee? The Sexes sprung from Shame in evening died But Mercy changd Death into Sleep;...
Songs Of Experience. Introduction : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 30 INTRODUCTION. Hear the voice of the Bard! Who Present, Past, Night is worn, And the morn Rises from the slumberous mass. Turn away no more: Why wilt thou turn away The starry floor The watry shore Is giv'n thee till...
Songs Of Innocence. A Dream : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 26 A DREAM Once a dream did weave a shade, O'er my Angel-guarded bed, That an Emmet lost it's way Where on grass methought I lay. Troubled wilderd and folorn Dark benighted travel-worn, Over many a tangled spray, All...
Songs Of Experience. The Little Girl Lost : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 34 THE LITTLE GIRL LOST In futurity I prophetic see, That the earth from sleep, (Grave the sentence deep) Shall arise and seek For her maker meek: And the desart wild Become a garden mild. In the southern clime, Where...
Songs Of Experience. The Fly : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 40 THE FLY. Little Fly Thy summers play, My thoughtless hand Has brush'd away. Am not I A fly like thee? Or art not thou A man like me? For I dance And drink & sing: Till some blind hand Shall brush my wing. If thought is...
Songs Of Experience. Nurses Song : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 38 NURSES SONG When the voices of children, are heard on the green And whisprings are in the dale: The days of my youth rise fresh in my mind, My face turns green and pale. Then come home my children, the sun is gone down...
Songs Of Innocence. On Anothers Sorrow : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 27 ON ANOTHERS SORROW Can I see anothers woe, And not be in sorrow too. Can I see anothers grief, And not seek for kind relief. Can I see a falling tear, And not feel my sorrows share, Can a father see his child, Weep, n...
Songs Of Experience. A Divine Image : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 55 A DIVINE IMAGE Cruelty has a Human Heart And Jealousy a Human Face Terror, the Human Form Divine And Secrecy, the Human Dress The Human Dress, is forged Iron The Human Form, a fiery Forge. The Human Face, a Furnace...
Songs Of Experience. The Little Vagabond : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 45 THE LITTLE VAGABOND Dear Mother, dear Mother, the Church is cold. But the Ale-house is healthy & pleasant & warm: Besides I can tell where I am use'd well. Such usage in heaven will never do well. But if at the Church...
Songs Of Experience. Infant Sorrow : * "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", by William Blake, [1789-1794], p. 48 INFANT SORROW My mother groand! my father wept. Into the dangerous world I leapt: Helpless, naked, piping loud: Like a fiend hid in a cloud. Struggling in my fathers hands: Striving against my swadling bands: Bound...
