Children's Literature Part 117

There came a burst of thunder sound: The boy,--oh! where was he?

Ask of the winds, that far around With fragments strewed the sea,--

With mast, and helm, and pennon fair, That well had borne their part,-- But the n.o.blest thing that perished there, Was that young, faithful heart.

The five numbers that follow are from the works of the great English poet and mystic William Blake (1757-1827). All except the first are given in their entirety. No. 328 is made up of three couplets taken from the loosely strung together _Auguries of Innocence_. Nos. 329, 330, and 332 are from _Songs of Innocence_ (1789), where the last was printed as an introduction without any other t.i.tle. No. 331 is from _Songs of Experience_ (1794). Blake labored in obscurity and poverty, though he has now come to be regarded as one of England's most important poets. It is not necessary that children should understand fully all that Blake says, but it is important for teachers to realize that most children are natural mystics and that Blake's poetry, more than any other, is the natural food for them.

328

THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER

WILLIAM BLAKE

A Robin Redbreast in a cage, Puts all heaven in a rage.

A skylark wounded on the wing Doth make a cherub cease to sing.

He who shall hurt the little wren Shall never be beloved by men.

329

THE LAMB

WILLIAM BLAKE

Little lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee, Gave thee life, and bade thee feed By the stream and o'er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing, woolly, bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice?

Little lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Little lamb, I'll tell thee, Little lamb, I'll tell thee.

He is called by thy name, For He calls himself a Lamb: He is meek and he is mild, He became a little child.

I a child and thou a lamb, We are called by His name.

Little lamb, G.o.d bless thee, Little lamb, G.o.d bless thee.

330

THE SHEPHERD

WILLIAM BLAKE

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 filled 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.

331

THE TIGER

WILLIAM BLAKE

Tiger, tiger, burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand dare seize thy fire?

And what shoulder and what art Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand formed thy dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? what dread grasp Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears, And water'd heaven with their tears, Did He smile His work to see?

Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

332

THE PIPER

WILLIAM BLAKE

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 vanish'd from my sight; And I pluck'd a hollow reed,