William Blake’s two collections of poems become very famous at the contemporary time even in the post-modern time they are ‘Songs of Innocence’ and ‘Songs of Experience’.
He was not only a poet who also was a painter who had painted his book covers for himself. His first collection of poems was ‘Song of Innocence’ that generally considered as a collection of soft, nonsensical poems.
If a reader sees ‘The Lamb’ and ‘The Tyger’ will get the different perspectives that have been shown in two collections.
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Songs of Innocence Critical Analysis
William Blake speaks that it is written as the song of Innocence that would seem like the perspective of a child. So, the poems would be written in a soft manner.
This collection first arrived in the year 1789. When it arrived, it fills with deep ‘pastoral harmony’, ‘happy life’. Even if you look at the poem, ‘The Chimney Sweeper’.
In the collection, there is a total of nineteen poems that become amazingly famous.
At first, ‘The Shepherd’ comes as a poem of ‘Songs of Innocence’ but later it gets combined and published in ‘Sings of Experience’. For this poem, Blake himself painted a picture.
Then comes ‘The Echoing Green’. This is also a soft, smooth, and childish poem. It tells a story of Merry where more other children are playing and making fun. The very happy life of children has been shown by the grand man William Blake.
William Blake the Lamb
‘The lamb’ was published in the first collection of poems. Here, the poet talks about the little lamb that has a soft voice and a woolen body. In this poem, he raises a question toward God and also himself answers.
“Little Lamb who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee”
He is asking about its identity to its creator that makes it so soft and innocent. This poem is associated with the poem ‘The Tyger’.
‘The Little Black Boy’ is a poem that talks about a boy who becomes a victim of slavery.
At that contemporary time, slavery was legal and the world also goes with ‘racism’. In this poem, Blake raises a question to God. This poem is based on Christian ideas.
‘The Blossom’ is a fantastic poem that was published along with another poem in 1789. Here, the poet explains happy, happy moments like “Leaves so green”, “happy blossom”. As it is a poem of Innocence, the poet only deals with a simple thought.
Songs of Innocence the Chimney Sweeper
“Chimney Sweeper” is one of the best poems in Blake’s collection of poems. Here also the poet has opine of child labor where children are being destructed.
At five/six old they are washing chimney and working hard to earn money. Even some of them get died because they fall into the chimney and others died because of lung disease.
“When my mother died I was very young,
And my father sold me while yet my tongue,”
This line produces a hard reality even other poets also write on that topic. William Blake had written many poems on child abuse. ‘The Little Boy Lost’ is also that type of poem. This poem is a fragment of another poem called ‘The Little Boy Found’.
“The mire was deep, & the child did weep”
The line is so deep and filled with pathos. Though the poet has written in a very gentle way. “The Little Boy Found” is another poem that can be continued with the previous poem.
“Began to cry, but God ever nigh,
Appeard like his father in white.”
God is a common personality that stays in Blake’s poems. This poem is very significant because here the poet is producing the innocence of a child and asks God to let him aware.
“Laughing Song” is another awesome poem by the hands of Blake. This is also poem happiness, fancy work, charming soul. Is it generally considered as a song that is being sung many times?
He gives importance to the ‘Prelapsarian times’. Sometimes the happiness will end people will be changed.
Then comes ‘The Cradle Song’ which is a very hearty poem and it tells of the mother’s love for her children. She calls her child ‘dovelike’.
If a reader thinks that Blake only writes innocence then it is not right. Blake has some deeper meaning in his poems. “The Devine Image” was first published in the ‘Songs of Innocence’ later it is being combined.
If a reader goes through it then will find peace, love, pity. So this is a perfect poem of innocence. “Holy Thursday” is also a very famous poem. This poem tells about a ceremony that is held in an ascension day. The poet explaining the occasion.
Another poem is ‘Night’ that deals with negative capability. In this poem, he spoke that when night comes evil spirit also grows in the darkness of night.
“Spring” is also a poem of weather. If a reared see then will find ‘spring’ is a very happy time for all people. That is why it is being highlighted.
Nurse’s Song” is also a lovely poem by the famous poet. Here an image comes in that is of some children and they are playing at a field. One of the critics of William Blake opines,
“few besides Blake could have written such a
Poem on the delight of being allowed to play a little longer until dusk.”
“Infant Joy” and “A Dream” are very fantastic poems. “On Another’s Sorrow” is the last poem of this collection.
Holy Thursday
Holy Thursday is another poem where Blake is describing an occasion.
So, these are all poems that become a part of “Song of Innocence”. These are all simple poems though have deep meaning inside. It snatched the mind of people and also get claps from the critical world.