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( Of course, in modern English, “The Tyger” would be “The Tiger”.)
We present three “songs” by the poet and artist, and Londoner, William Blake (1757-1827). His Songs of Innocence and Experience were intended to be sung, but the melodies are now lost. Many of his poems see the world with the freshness of a child’s eye.
THE TYGER
Tyger, tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And, when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the lamb make thee?
Tyger, tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
THE FLY
Little Fly,
Thy summer’s play
My thoughtless hand
Has brushed away.
Am not I
A fly like thee?
Or art not thou
A man like me?
For I dance
And drink, and sing,
Till some blind hand
Shall brush my wing.
If thought is life
And strength and breath
And the want
Of thought is death;
Then am I
A happy fly,
If I live,
Or if I die.
THE LAMB
Little Lamb, who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee,
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed
By the stream and o’er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee;
Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For He calls Himself a Lamb
He is meek, and He is mild,
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
22 Comments
Wow, I have never read a poem in Storynory.
Anyway, I really like this one.
Actually, I’m in Korea. So, to me, it’s 9 : 36. Don’t think me that I sleep late.
thanks… it is really very nice..
Isn’t “tyger” spelled tiger?
Price Berie please reply
Hi Lauren “Tiger” is spelled “Tiger” you are right…. but William Blake lived a long time ago and he spelt it “Tyger”
When are we going to have a bertie story?
Great story though
I loved the tiger poem. It’s really intelligent! I liked the vocabulary. I’d like someone to tell me whether that was an old poem or a contemporary poem.
“THE LAMB” is my favorite among three. .it represents us. .___PEOPLE____c”,)
It’s a WOW poem, thank you so much, and keep going,
bye bye bye bye……..
We love Storynory! Thanks for all the stories, and now these poems!
I like many stories here. By the way, when are you going to put another Bertie story?!
please answer,
Red aju
I know that it’s time for another Bertie story… working on one for Christmas, and also hoping to keep them coming next year. Just been having a little rest from Bertie adventures, and hope to return with fresh spirit.
Some of my comments got erased and in the middle of a comment list,is this a bug?
Cattien, I can’t think why some or your comments aren’t there.
Hey,I heard about the deaf,so how about you make another version of Storynory just for them!
Dear Cattien, Dear people appreciate the texts on Storynory. Some people with hearing implants listen to the words and read the text and it helps them train their hearing.
i liked it but the raven is still my favorate!
hi, I’m so happy to find this page, I have a baby and he likes to listen short stories.
congratulations for your work.
I don’t like poems. try to post stories. still, they are okay. thanks bertie…
So easy n enjoyble lol
love
awsome tiger story cool