The Chimney Sweeper: A little black thing among the snow
The Chimney Sweeper: A little black thing among the snow
Original Text
William Blake, Songs of Experience (1794). Blake's Illuminated Books, ed. David Bindman (Princeton, NJ: William Blake Trust; London: Tate Gallery, 1991-). See Vol. 2. PR 4142 B46 1991 ROBA.
1A little black thing among the snow,
2Crying "weep! 'weep!" in notes of woe!
3"Where are thy father and mother? say?"
4"They are both gone up to the church to pray.
5Because I was happy upon the heath,
6And smil'd among the winter's snow,
7They clothed me in the clothes of death,
8And taught me to sing the notes of woe.
9And because I am happy and dance and sing,
10They think they have done me no injury,
11And are gone to praise God and his Priest and King,
12Who make up a heaven of our misery."
Publication Start Year
1794
RPO poem Editors
Northrop Frye
RPO Edition
3RP 2.284.
Rhyme