Songs of Innocence and of Experience

by William Blake

[1789-1794]

Contents Start Reading Page Index Text [Zipped]

This is a fascimile reproduction, along with transcribed text, of William Blake's masterpiece of bookmaking, Songs of Innocence and of Experience. These poems are one of the treasures of world literature, simple enough to resonate with children, but with enough exoteric and esoteric meaning to keep a gnostic sage pondering for several lifetimes. Blake's vision of a universe alive on all scales of being is luminously represented in the hand-colored illustrations, which contain clues to the overtones of the text. The poems are also firmly rooted in the misery of 18th century London, and many of them are embued with a politically radical (but still bardic) outlook on the squalid everyday life which surrounded Blake. This is a text which needs to be experienced with both sides of the brain. --John Bruno Hare, March 11, 2009.

Songs of Innocence

Title Page
Frontispiece
Title Page
Introduction
The Shepherd
The Ecchoing Green
The Lamb
The Little Black Boy
The Blossom
The Chimney Sweeper
The Little Boy lost
The Little Boy found
Laughing Song
A Cradle Song
The Divine Image
Holy Thursday
Night
Spring
Nurse's Song
Infant Joy
A Dream
On Anothers Sorrow

Songs of Experience

Frontispiece
Title Page
Introduction
Earth's Answer
The Clod & The Pebble
Holy Thursday
The Little Girl Lost; The Little Girl Found
The Chimney Sweeper
Nurses Song
The Sick Rose
The Fly
The Angel
The Tyger
My Pretty Rose Tree; Ah! Sun-flower; The Lilly
The Garden of Love
The Little Vagabond
London
The Human Abstract
Infant Sorrow
A Poison Tree
A Little Boy Lost
A Little Girl Lost
To Tirzah
The School-Boy
The Voice of the Ancient Bard
A Divine Image