Contents:
SONGSOFINNOCENCE
IntroductionTheShepherdTheEchoingGreenTheLambTheLittleBlackBoyTheBlossomTheChimney—SweeperTheLittleBoyLostTheLittleBoyPoundLaughingSongACradleSongTheDivineImageHolyThursdayNightSpringNurse’sSongInfantJoyADreamOnAnother’sSorrowSONGSOFEXPERIENCE
IntroductionEarth’sAnswerTheClodandthePebbleHolyThursdayTheLittleGirlLostTheLittleGirlFoundTheChimney—SweeperNurse’sSongTheSickRoseTheFlyTheAngelTheTigerMyPrettyRose—TreeAh,SunflowerTheLilyTheGardenofLoveTheLittleVagabondLondonTheHumanAbstractInfantSorrowAPoisonTreeALittleBoyLostALittleGirlLostADivineImageACradleSongTheSchoolboyToTirzahTheVoiceoftheAncientBardSONGSOFINNOCENCE
Pipingdownthevalleyswild,Pipingsongsofpleasantglee,OnacloudIsawachild,Andhelaughingsaidtome:
’PipeasongaboutaLamb!’
SoIpipedwithmerrycheer。
’Piper,pipethatsongagain。’
SoIpiped:hewepttohear。
’Dropthypipe,thyhappypipe;
Singthysongsofhappycheer!’
SoIsungthesameagain,Whileheweptwithjoytohear。
’Piper,sittheedownandwriteInabook,thatallmayread。’
Sohevanishedfrommysight;
AndIpluckedahollowreed,AndImadearuralpen,AndIstainedthewaterclear,AndIwrotemyhappysongsEverychildmayjoytohear。
THESHEPHERD
Howsweetistheshepherd’ssweetlot!
Fromthemorntotheeveninghestrays;
Heshallfollowhissheepalltheday,Andhistongueshallbefilledwithpraise。
Forhehearsthelambs’innocentcall,Andhehearstheewes’tenderreply;
Heiswatchfulwhiletheyareinpeace,Fortheyknowwhentheirshepherdisnigh。
THEECHOINGGREEN
Thesundoesarise,Andmakehappytheskies;
ThemerrybellsringTowelcometheSpring;
Theskylarkandthrush,Thebirdsofthebush,SinglouderaroundTothebells’cheerfulsound;
WhileoursportsshallbeseenOntheechoinggreen。
OldJohn,withwhitehair,Doeslaughawaycare,Sittingundertheoak,Amongtheoldfolk。
Theylaughatourplay,Andsoontheyallsay,’Such,suchwerethejoysWhenweall——girlsandboys—
Inouryouth—timewereseenOntheechoinggreen。’
Tillthelittleones,weary,Nomorecanbemerry:
Thesundoesdescend,Andoursportshaveanend。
RoundthelapsoftheirmothersManysistersandbrothers,Likebirdsintheirnest,Arereadyforrest,AndsportnomoreseenOnthedarkeninggreen。
THELAMB
Littlelamb,whomadethee?
Doesthouknowwhomadethee,Gavetheelife,andbidtheefeedBythestreamando’erthemead;
Gavetheeclothingofdelight,Softestclothing,woolly,bright;
Gavetheesuchatendervoice,Makingallthevalesrejoice?
Littlelamb,whomadethee?
Doesthouknowwhomadethee?
Littlelamb,I’lltellthee;
Littlelamb,I’lltellthee:
Heiscalledbythyname,ForHecallsHimselfaLamb。
Heismeek,andHeismild,Hebecamealittlechild。
Iachild,andthoualamb,WearecalledbyHisname。
Littlelamb,Godblessthee!
Littlelamb,Godblessthee!
THELITTLEBLACKBOY
Mymotherboremeinthesouthernwild,AndIamblack,butOmysouliswhite!
WhiteasanangelistheEnglishchild,ButIamblack,asifbereavedoflight。
Mymothertaughtmeunderneathatree,And,sittingdownbeforetheheatofday,Shetookmeonherlapandkissedme,And,pointingtotheEast,begantosay:
’Lookontherisingsun:thereGoddoeslive,AndgivesHislight,andgivesHisheataway,AndflowersandtreesandbeastsandmenreceiveComfortinmorning,joyinthenoonday。
’Andweareputonearthalittlespace,Thatwemaylearntobearthebeamsoflove;
AndtheseblackbodiesandthissunburntfaceArebutacloud,andlikeashadygrove。
’For,whenoursoulshavelearnedtheheattobear,Thecloudwillvanish,weshallhearHisvoice,Saying,\"Comeoutfromthegrove,myloveandcare,Androundmygoldententlikelambsrejoice。\"’
Thusdidmymothersay,andkissedme,AndthusIsaytolittleEnglishboy。
WhenIfromblack,andhefromwhitecloudfree,AndroundthetentofGodlikelambswejoy,I’llshadehimfromtheheattillhecanbearToleaninjoyuponourFather’sknee;
AndthenI’llstandandstrokehissilverhair,Andbelikehim,andhewillthenloveme。
THEBLOSSOM
Merry,merrysparrow!
UnderleavessogreenAhappyblossomSeesyou,swiftasarrow,Seekyourcradlenarrow,Nearmybosom。
Pretty,prettyrobin!
UnderleavessogreenAhappyblossomHearsyousobbing,sobbing,Pretty,prettyrobin,Nearmybosom。
THECHIMNEY—SWEEPER
WhenmymotherdiedIwasveryyoung,AndmyfathersoldmewhileyetmytongueCouldscarcelycry’Weep!weep!weep!weep!’
SoyourchimneysIsweep,andinsootIsleep。
There’slittleTomDacre,whocriedwhenhishead,Thatcurledlikealamb’sback,wasshaved;soIsaid,’Hush,Tom!nevermindit,for,whenyourhead’sbare,Youknowthatthesootcannotspoilyourwhitehair。’
Andsohewasquiet,andthatverynight,AsTomwasa—sleeping,hehadsuchasight!—
Thatthousandsofsweepers,Dick,Joe,Ned,andJack,Wereallofthemlockedupincoffinsofblack。
Andbycameanangel,whohadabrightkey,Andheopenedthecoffins,andsetthemallfree;
Thendownagreenplain,leaping,laughing,theyrunAndwashinariver,andshineinthesun。
Thennakedandwhite,alltheirbagsleftbehind,Theyriseuponclouds,andsportinthewind:
AndtheangeltoldTom,ifhe’dbeagoodboy,He’dhaveGodforhisfather,andneverwantjoy。
AndsoTomawoke,andweroseinthedark,Andgotwithourbagsandourbrushestowork。
Thoughthemorningwascold,Tomwashappyandwarm:
So,ifalldotheirduty,theyneednotfearharm。
THELITTLEBOYLOST
’Father,father,whereareyougoing?
Odonotwalksofast!
Speak,father,speaktoyourlittleboy,OrelseIshallbelost。’
Thenightwasdark,nofatherwasthere,Thechildwaswetwithdew;
Themirewasdeep,andthechilddidweep,Andawaythevapourflew。
THELITTLEBOYFOUND
Thelittleboylostinthelonelyfen,Ledbythewanderinglight,Begantocry,butGod,evernigh,Appearedlikehisfather,inwhite。
Hekissedthechild,andbythehandled,Andtohismotherbrought,Whoinsorrowpale,throughthelonelydale,Herlittleboyweepingsought。
LAUGHINGSONG
Whenthegreenwoodslaughwiththevoiceofjoy,Andthedimplingstreamrunslaughingby;
Whentheairdoeslaughwithourmerrywit,Andthegreenhilllaughswiththenoiseofit;
Whenthemeadowslaughwithlivelygreen,Andthegrasshopperlaughsinthemerryscene;
WhenMaryandSusanandEmilyWiththeirsweetroundmouthssing’Hahahe!’
Whenthepaintedbirdslaughintheshade,Whereourtablewithcherriesandnutsisspread:
Comelive,andbemerry,andjoinwithme,Tosingthesweetchorusof’Hahahe!’
ACRADLESONG
Sweetdreams,formashadeO’ermylovelyinfant’shead!
SweetdreamsofpleasantstreamsByhappy,silent,moonybeams!
SweetSleep,withsoftdownWeavethybrowsaninfantcrown!
SweetSleep,angelmild,Hovero’ermyhappychild!
Sweetsmiles,inthenightHoverovermydelight!
Sweetsmiles,mother’ssmiles,Allthelivelongnightbeguiles。
Sweetmoans,dovelikesighs,Chasenotslumberfromthyeyes!
Sweetmoans,sweetersmiles,Allthedovelikemoansbeguiles。
Sleep,sleep,happychild!
Allcreationsleptandsmiled。
Sleep,sleep,happysleep,Whileo’ertheethymotherweep。
Sweetbabe,inthyfaceHolyimageIcantrace;
Sweetbabe,onceliketheeThyMakerlay,andweptforme:
Weptforme,forthee,forall,WhenHewasaninfantsmall。
ThouHisimageeversee,Heavenlyfacethatsmilesonthee!
Smilesonthee,onme,onall,Whobecameaninfantsmall;
InfantsmilesareHisownsmiles;
Heavenandearthtopeacebeguiles。
THEDIVINEIMAGE
ToMercy,Pity,Peace,andLove,Allprayintheirdistress,AndtothesevirtuesofdelightReturntheirthankfulness。
ForMercy,Pity,Peace,andLove,IsGodourFatherdear;
AndMercy,Pity,Peace,andLove,Isman,Hischildandcare。
ForMercyhasahumanheart;
Pity,ahumanface;
AndLove,thehumanformdivine:
AndPeacethehumandress。
Theneveryman,ofeveryclime,Thatpraysinhisdistress,Praystothehumanformdivine:
Love,Mercy,Pity,Peace。
Andallmustlovethehumanform,Inheathen,Turk,orJew。
WhereMercy,Love,andPitydwell,ThereGodisdwellingtoo。
HOLYTHURSDAY
’TwasonaholyThursday,theirinnocentfacesclean,Thechildrenwalkingtwoandtwo,inred,andblue,andgreen:
Grey—headedbeadleswalkedbefore,withwandsaswhiteassnow,TillintothehighdomeofPaul’stheylikeThameswatersflow。
Owhatamultitudetheyseemed,theseflowersofLondontown!
Seatedincompaniestheysit,withradiancealltheirown。
Thehumofmultitudeswasthere,butmultitudesoflambs,Thousandsoflittleboysandgirlsraisingtheirinnocenthands。
Nowlikeamightywindtheyraisetoheaventhevoiceofsong,Orlikeharmoniousthunderingstheseatsofheavenamong:
Beneaththemsittheagedmen,wiseguardiansofthepoor。
Thencherishpity,lestyoudriveanangelfromyourdoor。
NIGHT
ThesundescendingintheWest,Theeveningstardoesshine;
Thebirdsaresilentintheirnest,AndImustseekformine。
Themoon,likeaflowerInheaven’shighbower,Withsilentdelight,Sitsandsmilesonthenight。
Farewell,greenfieldsandhappygroves,Whereflockshavetookdelight,Wherelambshavenibbled,silentmovesThefeetofangelsbright;
Unseen,theypourblessing,Andjoywithoutceasing,Oneachbudandblossom,Andeachsleepingbosom。
TheylookineverythoughtlessnestWherebirdsarecoveredwarm;
Theyvisitcavesofeverybeast,Tokeepthemallfromharm:
IftheyseeanyweepingThatshouldhavebeensleeping,Theypoursleepontheirhead,Andsitdownbytheirbed。
Whenwolvesandtigershowlforprey,Theypityingstandandweep;
Seekingtodrivetheirthirstaway,Andkeepthemfromthesheep。
But,iftheyrushdreadful,Theangels,mostheedful,Receiveeachmildspirit,Newworldstoinherit。
Andtherethelion’sruddyeyesShallflowwithtearsofgold:
Andpityingthetendercries,Andwalkingroundthefold:
Saying:’WrathbyHismeekness,And,byHishealth,sickness,IsdrivenawayFromourimmortalday。
’Andnowbesidethee,bleatinglamb,Icanliedownandsleep,OrthinkonHimwhoborethyname,Grazeafterthee,andweep。
For,washedinlife’sriver,MybrightmaneforeverShallshinelikethegold,AsIguardo’erthefold。’
SPRING
Soundtheflute!
Nowit’smute!
Birdsdelight,Dayandnight,Nightingale,Inthedale,Larkinsky,—
Merrily,Merrily,merrilytowelcomeintheyear。
Littleboy,Fullofjoy;
Littlegirl,Sweetandsmall;
Cockdoescrow,Sodoyou;
Merryvoice,Infantnoise;
Merrily,merrilytowelcomeintheyear。
Littlelamb,HereIam;
ComeandlickMywhiteneck;
LetmepullYoursoftwool;
LetmekissYoursoftface;
Merrily,merrilywewelcomeintheyear。
NURSE’SSONG
Whenvoicesofchildrenareheardonthegreen,Andlaughingisheardonthehill,Myheartisatrestwithinmybreast,Andeverythingelseisstill。
’Thencomehome,mychildren,thesunisgonedown,Andthedewsofnightarise;
Come,come,leaveoffplay,andletusaway,Tillthemorningappearsintheskies。’
’No,no,letusplay,foritisyetday,Andwecannotgotosleep;
Besides,intheskythelittlebirdsfly,Andthehillsareallcoveredwithsheep。’
’Well,well,goandplaytillthelightfadesaway,Andthengohometobed。’
Thelittleonesleaped,andshouted,andlaughed,Andallthehillsechoed。
INFANTJOY
’Ihavenoname;
Iambuttwodaysold。’
WhatshallIcallthee?
’Ihappyam,Joyismyname。’
Sweetjoybefallthee!
Prettyjoy!
Sweetjoy,buttwodaysold。
SweetjoyIcallthee:
Thoudostsmile,Isingthewhile;
Sweetjoybefallthee!
ADREAM
OnceadreamdidweaveashadeO’ermyangel—guardedbed,ThatanemmetlostitswayWhereongrassmethoughtIlay。
Troubled,wildered,andforlorn,Dark,benighted,travel—worn,Overmanyatangledspray,Allheart—broke,Iheardhersay:
’Omychildren!dotheycry,Dotheyheartheirfathersigh?
Nowtheylookabroadtosee,Nowreturnandweepforme。’
Pitying,Idroppedatear:
ButIsawaglow—wormnear,Whoreplied,’WhatwailingwightCallsthewatchmanofthenight?’
’Iamsettolighttheground,Whilethebeetlegoeshisround:
Follownowthebeetle’shum;
Littlewanderer,hietheehome!’
ONANOTHER’SSORROW
CanIseeanother’swoe,Andnotbeinsorrowtoo?
CanIseeanother’sgrief,Andnotseekforkindrelief?
CanIseeafallingtear,Andnotfeelmysorrow’sshare?
CanafatherseehischildWeep,norbewithsorrowfilled?
CanamothersitandhearAninfantgroan,aninfantfear?
No,no!nevercanitbe!
Never,nevercanitbe!
AndcanHewhosmilesonallHearthewrenwithsorrowssmall,Hearthesmallbird’sgriefandcare,Hearthewoesthatinfantsbear—
Andnotsitbesidethenest,Pouringpityintheirbreast,Andnotsitthecradlenear,Weepingtearoninfant’stear?
Andnotsitbothnightandday,Wipingallourtearsaway?
Ono!nevercanitbe!
Never,nevercanitbe!
HedothgiveHisjoytoall:
Hebecomesaninfantsmall,Hebecomesamanofwoe,Hedothfeelthesorrowtoo。
Thinknotthoucanstsighasigh,AndthyMakerisnotby:
Thinknotthoucanstweepatear,AndthyMakerisnotnear。
OHegivestousHisjoy,ThatourgriefHemaydestroy:
TillourgriefisfledandgoneHedothsitbyusandmoan。
SONGSOFEXPERIENCE
INTRODUCTION
HearthevoiceoftheBard,Whopresent,past,andfuture,sees;
WhoseearshaveheardTheHolyWordThatwalkedamongtheancienttrees;
Callingthelapsedsoul,Andweepingintheeveningdew;
ThatmightcontrolThestarrypole,Andfallen,fallenlightrenew!
’OEarth,OEarth,return!
Arisefromoutthedewygrass!
Nightisworn,AndthemornRisesfromtheslumbrousmass。