Songs of Innocence and of Experience cover

Songs of Innocence and of Experience

William Blake (1757-1827)

Original en 5455 words First published 1794 United Kingdom

William Blake's illuminated masterpiece, the two great poem-plates of 1789 and 1794 that contain 'The Lamb' and 'The Tyger', 'London' and 'The Chimney Sweeper'. Blake engraved, printed and coloured the books himself, pairing poems to show 'the two contrary states of the human soul': innocence that does not yet know the world, and experience that can no longer imagine another one. This is the plate text — the poems that made Blake a central poet of the English language, mystic, prophet and nursery-rhyme genius at once.

Text sourced from Project Gutenberg (public domain in the United States); the Project Gutenberg trademark and license text have been removed on import. Public-domain status determined by the author's death year + 50 years rule.

Table of Contents

  1. 001 Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The… 2521 words
  2. 002 SONGS OF EXPERIENCE INTRODUCTION Hear the voice of the Bard, Who… 2518 words
  3. 003 As thy softest limbs I feel, Smiles as of the morning steal O’er thy… 416 words