I heard an Angel singing
When the day was springing,
'Mercy, Pity, Peace
Is the world's release.'
Thus he sung all day
Over the new mown hay,
Till the sun went down
And haycocks looked brown.
I heard a Devil curse
Over the heath and the furze,
'Mercy could be no more,
If there was nobody poor,
And pity no more could be,
If all were as happy as we.'
At his curse the sun went down,
And the heavens gave a frown.
Down pour'd the heavy rain
Over the new reap'd grain ...
And Miseries' increase
Is Mercy, Pity, Peace.
The deep strong message that if there were no poor or all were happy, then there'd be no need for pity and mercy. The wisdom of an angel? .
''I do suppose this was an wonderful poem. I don't usually read poems much, but I do say, I liked this one.
Sans disaster and disappointments in life, mercy has no chance to be showered on to anyone in the world indeed!
I heard a Devil curse Over the heath and the furze, 'Mercy could be no more, If there was nobody poor, .../// a finest realistic and satirical stanza
And miseries’ increase is Mercy pity and peace. Marvelous poem!
Down pour'd the heavy rain! ! ! ! ! ! ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.
Blake's works show that he thinks the imagination is more important than reason. This is most important to understand what he has written in his poems and stories. Like all genius artists, his life was a tragic one. Such a greatest talent and no one could read his poems as it should be. With keeping his works safe in the National Museum, England realizes his great talents. He could not only write poems, but he painted and drew too.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
A Brilliant poem by the genius William Blake. To his descendants in the England: Congratulations for the choice of PH as The Classic Poem Of The Day. Hurray! I will tell here a bit about this genius. William Blake was never understood really in his homeland, since people at that time were not educated as at present and Blake is a genius artist but no one understood him. Very tragic for him. But all his works are kept safe in the National Art History Museum in London.