The Chimney-Sweeper (Experience) - A poem by William Blake

William Blake - The Chimney-Sweeper (Experience)

A little black thing among the snow:
Crying weep, weep, in notes of woe!
Where are thy father & mother? say?
They are both gone up to the church to pray.

Because I was happy upon the heath.
And smil'd among the winters snow:
They clothed me in the clothes of death.
And taught me to sing the notes of woe.

And because I am happy. & dance & sing.
They think they have done me no injury:
And are gone to praise God & his Priest & King,
Who made up a heaven of our misery.

Added: on November 14th, 2005 at 1:53 AM | Viewed: 6318 times | Comments (8)

The Chimney-Sweeper (Experience) - Comments and Information
Poet: William Blake Poem: The Chimney-Sweeper (Experience) Volume: Songs of Experience Year: Published/Written in 1789 Comment 8 of 8, added on May 24th, 2007 at 4:25 AM. i think the poem is the mirror of the social life of lower classes .but i think we should pay more attention to the lower classes of the nowadays ,so that the tragdy will not happen again. if someone want to make friends with me ,please send me e-mails .i will be very glad,especially Gremans,since i am learning Deutsch fable from China Comment 7 of 8, added on April 30th, 2006 at 2:59 PM. The poem reveals its pessimistic attitude towards the chimney sweep business by calling the sweeper "little black thing". It also has religious symbols and ideas which is something it has in common to the poem in the Song from Innocence. Most importantly is the fact that the narrator has an ill outlook of the afterlife. Revealing the experienced view of the poem. Roberth from United States Comment 6 of 8, added on November 14th, 2005 at 1:53 AM. Blake wrote this accusing parents, church and society of neglicting the children. The child says, "Because I was happy upon the heath." He was happy but now he's not, maybe he lost his parents who were brought to the church. He thinks that they went to pray and he has been waiting them for long. It is clear that children at that time were exploited and a chimeny sweeper is a vivid example shows us how tough and dirty is this kind of job. Unfortunatelly we have in our society exploitation and child abuse. We are not too different from the past. Hatem Shurrab from Palestine More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Chimney-Sweeper (Experience), has received 8 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by William Blake with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
The Chimney-Sweeper (Experience) Volume: Songs of Experience Year: Published/Written in 1789 Last read: 2008-12-04 23:39:33 Viewed 6318 times. Added on November 14th, 2005 at 1:53 AM.

Blake Info
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