William Blake, Songs of Innocence: Night
The sun descending in the west.
The evening star does shine.
The birds are silent in their nest,
4
And I must seek for mine,
The moon like a flower,
In heavens high bower;
With silent delight,
8
Sits and smiles on the night.
Farewell green fields and happy groves,
Where flocks have took delight;
Where lambs have nibbled, silent moves
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The feet of angels bright;
Unseen they pour blessing,
And joy without ceasing,
On each bud and blossom,
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And each sleeping bosom.
They look in every thoughtless nest
Where birds are covered warm;
They visit caves of every beast,
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To keep them all from harm;
If they see any weeping,
That should have been sleeping
They pour sleep on their head
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And sit down by their bed.
When wolves and tygers howl for prey
They pitying stand and weep;
Seeking to drive their thirst away,
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And keep them from the sheep.
But if they rush dreadful;
The angels most heedful,
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New worlds to inherit.
And there the lions ruddy eyes,
Shall flow with tears of gold;
And pitying the tender cries,
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And walking round the fold:
Saying: wrath by his meekness
And by his health, sickness.
Is driven away,
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From our immortal day.
And now beside thee bleating lamb.
I can lie down and sleep;
Or think on him who bore thy name.
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For wash'd in lifes river.
My bright mane for ever .
Shall shine like the gold.
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As I guard o'er the fold.