Dictionary Poems

Four Zoas, The by William Blake 1.1 “What is the price of Experience? do men buy it for a song? 1.2 Or wisdom for a dance in the street? No, it is bought with the price 1.3 Of all that a man hath, his house, his wife, his children. 1.4 Wisdom is sold in the … Continued

Fly, The by William Blake Little Fly, Thy summer’s play My thoughtless hand Has brushed away. Am not I A fly like thee? Or art not thou A man like me? For I dance And drink, and sing, Till some blind hand Shall brush my wing. If thought is life And strength and breath And … Continued

Echoing Green, The by William Blake The sun does arise, And make happy the skies; The merry bells ring To welcome the spring; The skylark and thrush, The birds of the bush, Sing louder around To the bell’s cheerful sound, While our sports shall be seen On the Echoing Green. Old John with white hair, … Continued

Earth’s Answer by William Blake Earth raised up her head From the darkness dread and drear, Her light fled, Stony, dread, And her locks covered with grey despair. “Prisoned on watery shore, Starry jealousy does keep my den Cold and hoar; Weeping o’re, I hear the father of the ancient men. “Selfish father of men! … Continued

Divine Image, The by William Blake To Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love All pray in their distress; And to these virtues of delight Return their thankfulness. For Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love Is God, our father dear, And Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love Is Man, his child and care. For Mercy has a human heart, … Continued

Crystal Cabinet, The by William Blake The Maiden caught me in the wild, Where I was dancing merrily; She put me into her Cabinet, And lock’d me up with a golden key. This cabinet is form’d of gold And pearl and crystal shining bright, And within it opens into a world And a little lovely … Continued

Clod and the Pebble, The by William Blake “Love seeketh not itself to please, Nor for itself hath any care, But for another gives its ease, And builds a heaven in hell’s despair.” So sung a little clod of clay, Trodden with the cattle’s feet; But a pebble of the brook Warbled out these meters … Continued

Chimney Sweeper, The by William Blake A little black thing in 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 … Continued

Book of Urizen, The by William Blake CHAPTER 1 Lo, a shadow of horror is risen In Eternity! Unknown, unprolific, Self-clos’d, all-repelling: what demon Hath form’d this abominable void, This soul-shudd’ring vacuum? Some said “It is Urizen.” But unknown, abstracted, Brooding, secret, the dark power hid. CHAPTER 2 Times on times he divided and measur’d … Continued

Book of Thel, The by William Blake THEL’S MOTTO 1 Does the Eagle know what is in the pit? 2 Or wilt thou go ask the Mole? 3 Can Wisdom be put in a silver rod? 4 Or Love in a golden bowl? I 1.1 The daughters of the Seraphim led round their sunny flocks, … Continued