| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

View
 

William Blake's "London"

Page history last edited by Sarah Peterson 16 years, 1 month ago

 

I wander through each chartered street,

Near where the chartered Thames[1] does flow,

And mark in every face I meet

Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

 

In every[2] cry of every man,

In every Infant's cry of fear,

In every voice, in every ban,

The mind-forged manacles I hear.

 

How the Chimney-sweeper's cry

Every black'ning Church appalls;

And the hapless Soldier's sigh

Runs in blood down Palace walls.

 

But most through midnight streets I hear

How the youthful Harlot's curse

Blasts the new-born Infant's tear,

And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse.

Footnotes

  1. River in London
  2. Repetition of "every" emphasizes the collective sense of despair within the community.

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.