The Little Vagabond - A poem by William Blake

William Blake - The Little Vagabond

Dear Mother, dear Mother, the Church is cold,
But the Ale-house is healthy & pleasant & warm:
Besides I can tell where I am use'd well,
Such usage in heaven will never do well.

But if at the Church they would give us some Ale.
And a pleasant fire, our souls to regale:
We'd sing and we'd pray all the live-long day:
Nor ever once wish from the Church to stray.

Then the Parson might preach & drink & sing.
And we'd be as happy as birds in the spring:
And modest dame Lurch, who is always at Church
Would not have bandy children nor fasting nor birch

And God like a father rejoicing to see.
His children as pleasant and happy as he:
Would have no more quarrel with the Devil or the Barrel
But kiss him & give him both drink and apparel.

Added: on March 9th, 2006 at 6:13 AM | Viewed: 3089 times | Comments (6)

The Little Vagabond - Comments and Information
Poet: William Blake Poem: The Little Vagabond Volume: Songs of Experience Year: Published/Written in 1789 Comment 6 of 6, added on July 19th, 2006 at 7:29 PM. It is sad when the Church must learn how to be a proper host--from an ale house. I think of the tv program Cheers, where "everyone knows your name". This poem shows the church out of touch with the other needs of people. They have become so single-eyed that they can't minister effectively. In the mix is a Dame Lurch who seems to be full of negative vices: bandy children, fastings and beatings (birch, as in using a switch)--even though she is modest (perhaps gives the appearance of being christian or modest as in income level). I'm not sure why the child is a vagabond, since he has a mother and he goes to her (and perhaps a house or at least a residence). What I do like is the fact that the vagabond notices the differences between the ale-house and the church, in in his humble opinion, gives a suggestion that deserves merit. Is it wrong to be happy, to have a communal spirit within the church? The vagabond's suggestion is also non-condemning since he thinks even Dame Lurch would benefit from the change. The vagabond is interested in seeing positive changes. dallas from United States Comment 5 of 6, added on June 13th, 2006 at 4:18 AM. eh what what we don't understand!!! What the poet is trying to get at and do you think that any of his other poems have similar meaning in conjunction with this poem? Albex from Dominican Republic Comment 4 of 6, added on March 9th, 2006 at 6:13 AM. Not one of Blakes greater poems though it has extreme contextual relevance,Blake as a devout man of Faith but strongly opposed The Churches teachings,and this is expressed through this poem,his underlying message being that the Church is so strict with rules such as "fasting" and "birch-reference to punnishment".Rather it is God that wants us to be as "pleasent an happy as he".In this Blake focuses more on the power and manipulation of the church,exploiting the concept of God in order to gain control of society. lura from United Kingdom More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Little Vagabond, has received 6 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 Little Vagabond Volume: Songs of Experience Year: Published/Written in 1789 Last read: 2008-08-27 15:58:46 Viewed 3089 times. Added on March 9th, 2006 at 6:13 AM.

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