In “The Garden of Love,” William Blake highlights how institutional religion—or rigid authority—can overshadow personal joy and freedom. At first, the speaker reminisces ⋯ Read the full article

In William Blake’s “Ah! Sun-Flower,” the central image of a flower weary of time serves as a metaphor for the human soul’s longing to transcend worldly limits. The sunflo⋯ Read the full article

William Blake’s “The Blossom,” included in his collection Songs of Innocence (1789), captures a serene interplay between nature and innocence through the lens of gentle b⋯ Read the full article

William Blake’s “The Little Black Boy,” from his 1789 collection Songs of Innocence, addresses themes of identity, race, and divine love. The titular character, a Black c⋯ Read the full article

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 nur⋯ Read the full article

In “Nurse’s Song (Innocence),” William Blake offers a vision of children at play and a caretaker—named simply “Nurse”—who oversees them with gentle understanding. Publish⋯ Read the full article

William Blake’s “The Clod and the Pebble” presents two contrasting stances on the nature of love. The Clod of Clay, soft and impressionable, sees love as inherently selfl⋯ Read the full article

“Infant Sorrow” is Blake’s counterpoint to “Infant Joy,” both appearing in his collection *Songs of Innocence and of Experience*. Where “Infant Joy” radiates warmth and h⋯ Read the full article

William Blake’s “Infant Joy,” included in his 1789 collection *Songs of Innocence*, captures the purity and optimism surrounding a newborn child. The poem unfolds as a br⋯ Read the full article

In “Holy Thursday (Experience),” William Blake offers a stark contrast to the hopeful procession depicted in his “Holy Thursday” poem from *Songs of Innocence*. Here, Bla⋯ Read the full article

In “Holy Thursday (Innocence),” William Blake provides a vivid depiction of London’s charity-school children marching into St. Paul’s Cathedral on Ascension Day—tradition⋯ Read the full article

William Blake’s “The Chimney Sweeper” (Experience) offers a darker perspective on child labor than its counterpart in *Songs of Innocence*. In these twelve lines, a young⋯ Read the full article

In “The Chimney Sweeper” from his Songs of Innocence (1789), William Blake reveals the plight of young chimney sweeps in 18th-century England through the perspective of a⋯ Read the full article

William Blake’s poem “A Poison Tree,” from his 1794 collection *Songs of Experience*, addresses the destructive nature of hidden wrath. At first, the speaker easily resol⋯ Read the full article

William Blake’s “The Sick Rose” is a brief yet potent poem that delves into themes of secrecy, corruption, and the delicate nature of beauty. The rose appears as a symbol⋯ Read the full article