Introduction to the Songs of Innocence

''Introduction to the Songs of Innocence'' [[''By William Blake'']] --- [[See the Illuminated Print]] --- 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

William Blake was a 19th-century writer and artist who is regarded as a seminal figure of the Romantic Age. His writings have influenced countless writers and artists through the ages. He revolutionized the process of engraving into a form which he called [["Illuminated Printing."]] This process resulted in [[colorful prints of his poems.]] To read more about Blake, <a href="https://poets.org/poet/william-blake" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> To read more about Illuminated Printing,<a href="https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/collection/international/print/b/blake/illuminated.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>. Return to the [[Introduction to the Songs of Innocence]] poem.

The process by which William Blake created his engraved poems. Refered to as <a href="https://journals.openedition.org/interfaces/489" target="_blank">"the infernal method,"</a> Blake would use chemicals to burn down a copper plate into the forms he wanted, then use ink to print those engravings into pages. Finally, Blake would use watercolors to paint his works. This resulted in [[colorful prints of his poems.]] Go back to the page [[''By William Blake'']] Return to the [[Introduction to the Songs of Innocence]] poem.

Below some examples of Blake's illuminated prints. Click here to learn more about [["Illuminated Printing."]] Go back to the page [[''By William Blake'']] <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Blake_London.jpg/300px-Blake_London.jpg"> <img src="https://475urm4elsq642bc3q174hyg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Songs-of-Innocence-The-Lamb-William-Blake-Illustration.jpg"> <img src="https://unisophomoreenglish.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/soe-the-tyger.jpg"> Return to the [[Introduction to the Songs of Innocence]] poem.

The imagery of the child on a cloud has been widely accepted by critics as a symbol representing Blake's inspiration; however, what the symbol means beyond inspiration is still an open question. Study guides all over the Internet suggest that the child is either divine inspiration sent from god in the form of an angel, with one stating in an authoritative tone that <a href="https://poemanalysis.com/william-blake/introduction-to-the-songs-of-innocence/" target="_blank">"The ‘child’ on the cloud symbolizes the angels of God."</a> This interpretation is likely based on 18th and 19th century religious iconography which featured cherubs as children in clouds. However, scholars such as [[G.E. Bentley]]and [[Northrop Frye]] have suggested in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23917.The_Stranger_from_Paradise" target="_blank">The Stranger from Paradies </a>and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/131885.Fearful_Symmetry" target="_blank">Fearful Symmetry </a>respectively that this imagery might be a way for Blake to process the loss of his brother<a href="http://bq.blakearchive.org/28.3.ward" target="_blank"> Robert Blake.</a> Return to the [[Introduction to the Songs of Innocence]] poem.

Although not much attention has been given to Blake's pipe - it is, after all, just a musical instrument - it is fun to think about possible symbolism of the pipe. Is it a musical pipe, or does it represent a smoking pipe? It's no secret that during the Romantic period <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/40971911?seq=1" target="_blank"> drugs and inspiration seemed to go together,</a> and Blake did claim to have <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1168150.William_Blake" target="_blank"> visions similar to those caused by hallucinogens</a>. Might the "Happy Pipe" be more than meets the eye? Alternatively, they could have been caused by the fumes that, as [[G.E. Bentley]] notes, were a side-effect of Blake's [["Illuminated Printing."]] Return to the [[Introduction to the Songs of Innocence]] poem.

It's the accepted interpretation that the <a href="https://aleteia.org/2017/09/16/how-the-lamb-became-a-powerful-christian-symbol/" target="_blank">Lamb is a symbol for Jesus Christ.</a> Return to the [[Introduction to the Songs of Innocence]] poem.

The concept of the child on a cloud weeping is an interesting one. The first time the child weeps, there is no indication for the reason. "So I piped, he wept to hear." However, the second time the child weeps, it is in joy. "While he wept with joy to hear." This implies a chance in the power of the poet's words - a development of his poetic function. This power of poetry continues to evolve and ultimately culminates in Blake's other Introduction poem, the [[Introduction to Songs of Experience]]. In this poem, The Bard begins with a command: Listen to the voice of the bard! In this powerful command that prompts readers from that moment onwards to listen, the voice of the bard becomes finally realized and the reader is shown its true power. Return to the [[Introduction to the Songs of Innocence]] poem.

This line is widely considered as the poetic moment when the Piper becomes the Bard: through a direct command from the child on a cloud - Blake's Inspiration. It's also a line thought to show the importance of the written word: while the spoken word - Blake's songs - can bring joy to one listener, writing them down on a book will allow a broader audience to enjoy these songs. The direct result of the line "Piper sit thee down and write" is a permanence to the songs that "every child may joy to hear." Return to the [[Introduction to the Songs of Innocence]] poem.

To further the importance of writing, the poem spends a few lines depicting the process of creating a pen to write, from the creation of a pen to the creation of ink. A hollow reed: <img src="https://www.oneraytransformation.com/media/k2/items/cache/3b3e749011568df066956f2034087c10_L.jpg" width="500" height="600" alt="A reed"> Blueberries used to create natural ink <img src="https://thefruitnut.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/imgp2211.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="A reed"> Follow this link for <a href="https://thefruitnut.com/making-ink-from-berries-by-dana-driscoll/" target="_blank">An article on how to make ink with berries.</a> Follow this link for <a href="https://mjfchance.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/making-natural-ink-paint/" target="_blank">An article on how to make natural ink.</a> Return to the [[Introduction to the Songs of Innocence]] poem.

To learn more about G.E. Bentley, one of the foremost Blake scholars, and his work, visit <a href="https://library.vicu.utoronto.ca/collections/special_collections/f54_g_e_bentley" target="_blank"> his profile page</a> at the University of Toronto Return to the [[Introduction to the Songs of Innocence]] poem.

To learn more about Northrop Frye, one of the foremost Blake scholars, and his work, visit <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Northrop-Frye" target="_blank"> his profile page</a> at the Britannica website. Return to the [[Introduction to the Songs of Innocence]] poem.

''Introduction to the Songs of Experience'' By William Blake --- This is a temporary placeholder while the Intro to Experience is annotated. --- 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 morn Rises from the slumberous mass. Turn away no more: Why wilt thou turn away The starry floor The watry shore Is giv'n thee till the break of day.