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."
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Comments
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I love this poem, it's so sad. I studied Blake in school and hated it at the time because you have to over analyse every word. One good thing that comes from this is that you you pick up on things you may have otherwise missed. The line that really got to me was "Crying "weep!weep!" in notes of woe" chimney sweepers sang "Sweep! Sweep! as they worked, by missing of the "S" at the start of the word it not only highlights their suffering but draws attantion to their youth, the boys are too young to pronounce their "S"'s. That really upset me!!!
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i think this poem is reflecting on child labour. this shows innocence is corrupted by the adults abusing it. children should be playing and enjoying themselves not working!!!
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Great,It'is Great
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