(From BlakeArchive.org)
The Chimney Sweeper
Songs of Experience (1794)
A little black thing in the snow,
Crying "'weep! 'weep!" in notes of woe!
"Where are thy father and mother? Say!"--
"They are both gone up to the church to pray.
"Because I was happy upon the heath,
And smiled among the winter's snow,
They clothed me in the clothes of death,
And taught me to sing the notes of woe.
"And because I am happy and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God and his priest and king,
Who make up a heaven of our misery."
Crying "'weep! 'weep!" in notes of woe!
"Where are thy father and mother? Say!"--
"They are both gone up to the church to pray.
"Because I was happy upon the heath,
And smiled among the winter's snow,
They clothed me in the clothes of death,
And taught me to sing the notes of woe.
"And because I am happy and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God and his priest and king,
Who make up a heaven of our misery."
- William Blake
1. Who is the speaker in this poem? What is tone of the speaker?
2. What does the color black represent?
3. How does this poem relate to "The Chimney Sweeper" from The Songs of Innocence?
4. How is this poem different?
5. What conclusions can be drawn about the author's view points on religion/ the Church?
6. Do you think poetry and other works of literature affected child labor at this time? Why or why not?
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