The Lamb
By William Blake
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!
The poem was published in William Blake’s collection of poems “Songs of
Innocence” in 1789. It is one of Blake’s best-known works and is often paired
with “The Tyger” from his “Songs of Experience” to present contrasting views of
the world. It is in the form of dialogue between the child and the lamb and an
amalgam of Christian Script and Pastoral tradition. The poem sees in the figure
of the lamb an expression of God’s will and the beauty of God’s creation. It is
told from the perspective of a child who shows an intuitive understanding of
the nature of joy and, indeed, the joy of nature. The lamb is a universal
symbol of selfless innocence, Jesus the Lamb is the gentle imagination, the
Divine Humanity. The poem presents the ideal of charity substantiating
Christian compassion and Caritas or caring, the ideals of the Lamb of God. Th.e
poem follows a simple AABB rhyme scheme, reinforcing the childlike tone and the
theme of innocence. The rhythm is regular and musical, reminiscent of a nursery
rhyme, which adds to the sense of simplicity and purity
First Stanza
In the first stanza, the speaker who is likely a child, addresses the
lamb directly, asking it if it knows who created it. The repetition of the
question “who made thee” emphasizes a sense of wonder and curiosity. The
imagery of the lamb being given and being made to feed by the stream and meadow
evokes a pastoral, Edenic world where nature is harmonious and nurturing. The speaker
describes the lamb’s characteristics, noting its “clothing of delight”, which
refers to its wool. The description of the wool as “softest” and “woolly bright”
suggests purity and gentleness. The lamb’s “tender voice” that brings joy to
the valleys adds to the idyllic and innocent portrayal. The stanza concludes
with the repeated question, reinforcing the central theme of inquiry into the
creator’s identity.
Second Stanza
In the second stanza, the speaker answers his own question. The answer
identifies the creator as Jesus Christ, who is often referred to as the Lamb of
God in Christian theology. This identification is significant because it links
the lamb to Christ’s qualities of innocence, sacrifice, and gentleness. The description
of Christ as “meek” and “mild” further emphasizes the qualities of humility and
gentleness. The reference to Christ becoming a child underscores the themes of
innocence and purity, drawing a parallel between the innocence of the lamb and
the innocence of Christ as a child.
The speaker identifies himself as a child and the lamb as a lamb, both
creations of God, sharing a bond through their creator. This line highlights
the connection between all innocent beings and the divine. The poem concludes
with a benediction, a blessing for the lamb. The repetition of “God bless thee”
reinforces the theme of divine care and protection over all innocent creatures.
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