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.
Wilderness Interface Zone 
.
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.
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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.
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Also, everyone—WIZ has one more spot open for the posting of a spring-themed poem tomorrow (Friday) morning.
Anybody? Anybody?
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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!)
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Oh, oh, oh! I found the “month-long” link. Do I get a prize? 😉
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Do you need a prize, Tyler?
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No, Patricia. Communing with all my cyber-friends is prize enough for me.
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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.)
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OH, I’m at a loss for words!
I guess I better go find some…
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.
(link)
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Thanks for that, Th.
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