Send some poetry to a friend - the love thought that counts!
 
Poems for the People   -  Poems by the People

The Chimney Sweeper
by William Blake

English poet, artist and mystic. The first of many notable writings was Poetical Sketches (1783), which contains one of his finest poems, 'To the Muses'. His most read work is probably Songs of Innocence (1789) which project childhood as a glorious state. This was contrasted by Songs of Experience (1794). Other notable works include The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1793), Visions of the Daughters of Albion (1793), Milton (1804) and Jerusalem (1804). His best-known artistic work includes engravings for Job and Dante's Divine Comedy. One of the great lyric poets, Blake wrote his early work in a classical style but later used the romantic style made popular by Wordsworth and Coleridge.


1794 - Songs of Experience
The Chimney Sweeper
by William Blake

A little black thing among the snow,
Crying "'weep! 'weep!" in notes of woe!
"Where are thy father and mother, say?"
"They are both gone up to the church to pray.

"Because I was happy upon the heath,
And smiled among the winter's snow,
They clothed me in the clothes of death,
And taught me to sing the notes of woe.

"And because I am happy and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God and his Priest and King,
Who make up a heaven of our misery."


pipHome | Top | All Poems | About | FAQ | Your Privacy | Contact Us

All poetry is copyright by the individual authors.
All other material on this web site, unless otherwise noted, is
Copyright 1998-2021 by Ron Carnell and Passions in Poetry.
- netpoets 2.11.1 -