The Human Abstract
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.

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1794 - Songs of Experience
The Human Abstract
by William Blake

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 a snare,
And spreads his baits with care.

He sits down with holy fears,
And waters the ground with tears:
Then Humility takes its root
Underneath his foot.

Soon spreads the dismal shade
Of Mystery over his head;
And the Catterpiller and Fly,
Feed on the Mystery.

And it bears the fruit of Deceit,
Ruddy and sweet to eat:
And the Raven his nest has made
In its thickest shade.

The Gods of the earth and sea,
Sought thro' Nature to find this Tree
But their search was all in vain;
There grows one in the Human Brain

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The Human Abstract by William Blake

1794 - Songs of Experience The Human Abstract by William Blake

The Human Abstract
by William Blake

1794 - Songs of Experience
The Human Abstract
by William Blake