William Blake
William Blake
William Blakewas an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. His prophetic works have been said to form "what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language". His visual artistry led one contemporary art critic to proclaim him "far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced". In...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth28 November 1757
If you trap the moment before it's ripe, The tears of repentance you'll certainly wipe; But if once you let the ripe moment go, You can never wipe off the tears of woe
In every cry of every man,In every infant's cry of fear,In every voice, in every ban,The mind-forged manacles I hear.
But to go to school in a summer morn, Oh, it drives all joy away! Under a cruel eye outworn, The little ones spend the day in sighing and dismay
Hear the voice of the Bard! / Who present, past, and future sees; / Whose ears have heard/ The Holy Word / That walked among the ancient trees.
How sweet I roamed from field to field, and tasted all the summer's pride.
I do not like the man's face. He looks as if he will live to be hanged.
Great Men & Fools do often me InspireBut the Greater Fool the Greater Liar.
For the Eye altering alters all;The Senses roll themselves in fearAnd the flat Earth becomes a Ball.
Does the Eagle know what is in the pit / Or wilt thou go ask the Mole? / Can Wisdom be put in a silver rod, / Or Love in a golden bowl?
You throw the sand against the windAnd the wind blows it back again.
The Bat that flits at close of EveHas left the Brain that won't believe.The Owl that calls upon the NightSpeaks the Unbeliever's fright.
Swedenborg is the Angel sitting at the tomb: his writings are the linen clothes folded up.
Then every man of every clime,That prays in his distress,Prays to the human form divine,Love, Mercy, Pity, Peace.
Never seek to tell thy love, / Love that never told can be; / For the gentle wind does move / Silently, invisibly.