William Blake, Songs of Innocence: On Anothers Sorrow
Can I see anothers woe,
And not be in sorrow too.
Can I see anothers grief,
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And not seek for kind relief.
Can I see a falling tear.
And not feel my sorrows share,
Can a father see his child,
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Weep, nor be with sorrow fill'd .
Can a mother sit and hear.
An infant groan an infant fear --
No no never can it be,
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Never never can it be.
And can he who smiles on all
Hear the wren with sorrows small.
Hear the small birds grief & care
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Hear the woes that infants bear --
And not sit beside the nest
Pouring pity in their breast.
And not sit the cradle near
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Weeping tear on infants tear.
And not sit both night & day.
Wiping all our tears away.
O! no never can it be.
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Never never can it be.
He doth give his joy to all,
He becomes an infant small,
He becomes a man of woe
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He doth feel the sorrow too.
Think not. thou canst sigh a sigh,
And thy maker is not by.
Think not, thou canst weep a tear,
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And thy maker is not near.
O! he gives to us his joy.
That our grief he may destroy
Till our grief is fled & gone
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He doth sit by us and moan