A Mormon literary backcountry where words and place come together.

 

 

 

 

Spring

by Patricia | 4.02.09

by William Blake

Sound the flute!
Now it’s mute!
Bird’s delight,
Day and night,
Nightingale,
In the dale,
Lark in sky,
Merrily,
Merrily merrily, to welcome in the year.

Little boy,
Full of joy;
Little girl,
Sweet and small;
Cock does crow,
So do you;
Merry voice,
Infant noise;
Merrily, merrily, to welcome in the year.

Little lamb,
Here I am;
Come and lick
My white neck;
Let me pull
Your soft wool;
Let me kiss
Your soft face;
Merrily, merrily, to welcome in the year.

 

Submitted by Eric Jepson.

Tagged: , , , , , , ,
Filed under: Nature poetry, WIZ's Spring Poetry Runoff

11 Responses to Spring

  1. Th.
    April 2nd, 2009 at 8:55 am

    .

    One thing I love about the Songs of Innocence and Experience is how they can be read apart or together. This poem, for instance, a delightful springtime romp. Combined with “The Lamb” it becomes the first chapter in a religious allegory. Then add “The Tyger” and our worldview suddenly complexifies in a truly sublime way.

  2. Patricia
    April 2nd, 2009 at 9:18 am

    Th.

    One of my big discoveries in grad school was that not only can you follow up Songs of Innocence with Songs of Experience (you know, the usual order of things), but you can come full circle by then following up Songs of Experience with Songs of Innocence (the unusual order of things).

    Yes, dazzling complexification.

    Blake seems to have quite the cadre of Mormon admirers. I’m sure that means something very interesting.

  3. Patricia
    April 2nd, 2009 at 9:21 am

    Also, everyone—WIZ has one more spot open for the posting of a spring-themed poem tomorrow (Friday) morning.

    Anybody? Anybody?

  4. Patricia
    April 2nd, 2009 at 9:22 am

    And by the way, April is not only the cruellest month, it’s the poetry month.

    Don’t miss A Motley Vision’s month-long celebration, already kicked-off.

    (Heh heh. Can you find the hidden link in the words above? Let’s have an Easter-link hunt!)

  5. Tyler
    April 2nd, 2009 at 9:44 am

    Oh, oh, oh! I found the “month-long” link. Do I get a prize? ;)

  6. Patricia
    April 2nd, 2009 at 11:06 am

    Do you need a prize, Tyler?

  7. Tyler
    April 2nd, 2009 at 11:29 am

    No, Patricia. Communing with all my cyber-friends is prize enough for me.

  8. Patricia
    April 2nd, 2009 at 12:41 pm

    How ’bout I give you a prize anyway?

    You win tomorrow’s Spring Poetry Runoff slot! Congratulations!

    (Small print: Winner remains free to accept or decline the precipitously awarded prize.)

  9. Tyler
    April 2nd, 2009 at 12:44 pm

    OH, I’m at a loss for words!

    I guess I better go find some…

  10. Th.
    April 2nd, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    .

    (link)

  11. Tyler
    April 2nd, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    Thanks for that, Th.

Leave a Reply