Lyric Poem · Nature

Songs of Experience: Introduction

by William Blake

Reading room

1Hear the voice of the Bard,

2Who present, past, and future, sees;

3Whose ears have heard

4The Holy Word

5That walked among the ancient tree;

6Calling the lapsed soul,

7And weeping in the evening dew;

8That might control

9The starry pole,

10And fallen, fallen light renew!

11"O Earth, O Earth, return!

12Arise from out the dewy grass!

13Night is worn,

14And the morn

15Rises from the slumbrous mass.

16"Turn away no more;

17Why wilt thou turn away?

18The starry floor,

19The watery shore,

20Are given thee till the break of day."

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“Songs of Experience: Introduction” by William Blake — quilloak.com/poems/songs-of-experience-introduction

Quick facts

Poem: Songs of Experience: Introduction
Poet: William Blake
Length: 20 lines
Form: Lyric Poem
Themes: Nature, Peace, Sad

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Shape: 20 lines · 4 quintains

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Author record: William Blake1757–1827
Source record: PoetryDBSongs of Experience: Introduction by william-blake, PoetryDB transcription
Display decision: Full text · United States · reviewed 2026-07-18
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Lyric Poem Nature Peace Sad

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