A Little Boy Lost
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.

← Previous Poem William Blake Next Poem →

1794 - Songs of Experience
A Little Boy Lost
by William Blake

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 the little bird
That picks up crumbs around the door.

The Priest sat by and heard the child,
In trembling zeal he siez'd his hair:
He led him by his little coat:
And all admir'd the Priestly care.

And standing on the altar high,
Lo what a fiend is here! said he:
One who sets reason up for judge
Of our most holy Mystery.

The weeping child could not be heard,
The weeping parents wept in vain:
They strip'd him to his little shirt,
And bound him in an iron chain.

And burn'd him in a holy place,
Where many had been burn'd before:
The weeping parents wept in vain.
Are such things done on Albions shore

← Previous Poem William Blake Next Poem →

A Little Boy Lost by William Blake

1794 - Songs of Experience A Little Boy Lost by William Blake

A Little Boy Lost
by William Blake

1794 - Songs of Experience
A Little Boy Lost
by William Blake