Non-African Poetry: William Blake’s – The Schoolboy SS1 Literature-in-English Lesson Note

Williams Blake was born on the 28th November 1757 in London where he remained for most of his life. He was educated at home by his mother until 1767 when he was sent to Henry pars drawing school. At the age of fourteen he became an apprentice to James Basirethe engraver and after studying at royal academy school he started to produce water. Colours and engravings for magazines. In 1783 he married Catherine Boucher. 

Some of Blake’s earliest poems were written at the age of twelve and his first book of poems was produced in 1783 (poetical sketches), and this was later followed by (songs of innocence) in 1789, and (songs of experience) in 1794.

I love to rise in a summer morn,

When the birds sing on every tree;

The distant huntsman winds his horn,

And the sky-lark sings with me.

O! What a sweet company.

But to go to school in a summer morn,

O! It drives all joy away;

Under a cruel eye outworn.

The little ones spend the day,

In sighing and dismay.

Ah! Then at times I drooping sit,

And spend many an anxious hour,

Nor in my book can I take delight,

Nor sit in learning’s bower,

Worn thro’ with the dreary shower.

How can the bird that is born for joy,

Sit in a cage and sing.

How can a child when fears annoy.

But droop his tender wing.

And forget his youthful spring.

O! Father& mother, if buds are nip’d,

And blossoms blown away,

And if the tender plants are stripped

Of their joy in the springing day,

By sorrow and care’s dismay

How shall the summer arise in joy.

Or the summer fruits appear.

Or how shall we gather what grief’s destroy

Or bless the mellowing year