A collection of lyric poems by William Blake in two parts, Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. It contrasts childlike innocence, joy, and nature with experience, suffering, and social injustice through symbolic, musical verse. Worth listening for its concise, vivid language and poems that invite reflection.
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Cover of the original edition (Project Gutenberg, public domain).
Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
SONGS OF INNOCENCE ĵƿŠ OF EXPERIENCE BY WILLIAM BLAKE The Astolaf Press, Guildford ƯLjƿŠLjƿ: ǡ. œǡƗƽƯŧΏ ƨLjƒƿǪLjƿ. ƄǼƗƯŠżLjǡŠ: ĵ. ŕ. ŕǼǡǵƗǪ. ƽŠŕŕŕŕƗ. CONTENTS SONGS OF INNOCENCE Introduction The Shepherd
The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow SONGS OF EXPERIENCE Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger
My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard Illustration:
SONGS OF INNOCENCE Illustration:
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 cheer. ‘Piper, pipe that song again.’ So I piped: he wept to hear. ‘Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe; Sing thy songs of happy cheer!’ So I sung the same again, While he wept with joy to hear. ‘Piper, sit thee down and write In a book, that all may read.’ So he vanished from my sight; And I plucked a hollow reed, And I made a rural pen, And I stained the water clear, And I wrote my happy songs Every child may joy to hear. Illustration:
THE SHEPHERD How sweet is the shepherd’s sweet lot! From the morn to the evening he strays; He shall follow his sheep all the day, And his tongue shall be fillèd with praise. For he hears the lambs’ innocent call, And he hears the ewes’ tender reply; He is watchful while they are in peace, For they know when their shepherd is nigh. Illustration:
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