Introduction (Songs of Experience)
Poetry
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William Blake
Introduction to the Songs of Experience Main Text
Introduction to the Songs of Experience
By William Blake
Hear the voice of the Bard!
Who Present, Past, & Future sees
Whose ears have heard,
The Holy Word,
That walk'd among the ancient trees.
Calling the lapsed Soul
And weeping in the evening dew:
That might controll,
The starry pole;
And fallen fallen light renew!
O Earth O Earth return!
Arise from out the dewy grass;
Night is worn,
And the...
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Introduction (Songs of Experience) key Facts
Title: Introduction
Poet: William Blake (1757-1827)
Publication: The poem was published in Blake’s Songs of Experience in 1794.
Form: Four five-line stanzas
Rhyme Scheme: Each stanza has a rhyme scheme of ABAAB
Important Note: This poem introduces the poet of this collection (“Songs of Experience”). Blake says this poet is called the Bard. The Bard can see the past, present, and future. He has hea...
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Introduction (Songs of Experience) Themes
Spiritual Awakening: The theme of this poem is about waking up from darkness and coming back to truth and goodness. The poem shows a wise poet (called the Bard) who can see the past, present, and future. He is like a prophet who speaks for God. He calls the human soul and the Earth to wake up. He says people have lost their way (goodness) and must return to the right path. The world is full of bea...
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Introduction (Songs of Experience) Quotes
Hear the voice of the Bard!
Who Present, Past, and future sees
Whose ears have heard,
The Holy Word,
That walk'd among the ancient trees.
Exp: The speaker urges his audience to listen to “the voice of the Bard!” who can see past, present, and future. In contrast to the “Introduction” for Songs of Innocence, this poem introduces a more mature and polished poetic voice in the bard.
O Earth O E...
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Introduction (Songs of Experience) Summary
The poem begins by asking us to listen to the voice of a wise poet. This wise poet is called the Bard. He can see the past, present, and future. He has heard the holy voice of God. So, the Bard is like a prophet.
The Bard is calling out to the human soul. He is asking humans to listen to his words. Because the human soul has gone far from truth and goodness. The Bard is sad and cries in the evenin...
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