Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE, by WILLIAM BLAKE



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: A little black thing among the snow
Last Line: "who make up a heaven of our misery."
Subject(s): Bible; Child Labor; Chimney Sweepers & Chimneys; Mythology


A little black thing in the snow,
Crying "weep! weep!" in notes of woe!
"Where are thy father and mother? Say!"--
"They are both gone up to the church to pray.

"Because I was happy upon the heath,
And smiled among the winter's snow,
They clothed me in the clothes of death,
And taught me to sing the notes of woe.

"And because I am happy and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God and his priest and king,
Who make up a heaven of our misery."






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