Nurse's Song (Experience) - William Blake
/Nurse's Song (Experience) - William Blake/
A Reflection on Lost Youth and Adult Cynicism
Original (Line 1): When voices of children are heard on the green
English (Line 1): When the voices of children are heard on the green
Original (Line 2): And whispers are in the dale,
English (Line 2): And whispers drift across the valley,
Original (Line 3): The days of my youth rise fresh in my mind,
English (Line 3): The days of my youth come vividly to mind,
Original (Line 4): My face turns green and pale.
English (Line 4): My face turns both green and pale.
Original (Line 5): Then come home, my children, the sun is gone down
English (Line 5): Then come home, my children, the sun has set
Original (Line 6): And the dews of night arise;
English (Line 6): And the night’s dew is gathering;
Original (Line 7): Your spring & your day are wasted in play,
English (Line 7): Your springtime and daytime are squandered in play,
Original (Line 8): And your winter and night in disguise.
English (Line 8): And your winter and night pass by in concealment.
From William Blake’s Nurse’s Song (Experience), part of Songs of Experience (1794). This poem is in the public domain.
In “Nurse’s Song (Experience),” William Blake provides a stark contrast to the carefree, nurturing atmosphere of its companion poem in *Songs of Innocence*. Here, the nurse—once serene—now views children’s voices with a tinge of bitterness and longing. Memories of her own youth resurface, causing her face to turn “green and pale,” hinting at envy or sorrow.
Instead of encouraging play, the nurse urges the children home with a resigned tone. She dismisses their innocent joys as a “waste,” projecting her own disillusionment onto them. The reference to “winter” and “night” underscores the sense that youth—and life itself—can wither swiftly, leaving only the burdens of adulthood.
Unlike the open-hearted optimism of the *Innocence* version, this poem reflects how personal regret and cynicism can taint one’s perception of childhood. It raises a universal question: does the passage of time inevitably bring a loss of wonder, replaced by caution or despair? Blake’s short, simple lines—heavy with emotional resonance—highlight the tension between youthful freedom and adult introspection, urging readers to examine how life’s disappointments can alter our views on childhood exuberance.
Key points
1. The nurse’s perspective shifts from gentle guidance to wistful cynicism.
2. Memories of youth now stir envy, overshadowing children’s playful spirit.
3. Imagery of dusk, dew, and winter signals the erosion of innocence.
4. The poem contrasts ‘innocent’ and ‘experienced’ viewpoints on childhood freedom.
