Introduction to the Songs of Innocence

By William Blake

Piping down the valleys wild Piping songs of pleasant glee On a cloud I saw a child. And he laughing said to me.

Pipe a song about a Lamb; So I piped with merry chear, Piper pipe that song again— So I piped, he wept to hear.

Drop thy pipe thy happy pipe Sing thy songs of happy chear, So I sung the same again While he wept with joy to hear

Piper sit thee down and write In a book that all may read— So he vanish'd from my sight. And I pluck'd a hollow reed.

And I made a rural pen, And I stain'd the water clear, And I wrote my happy songs Every child may joy to hear