Holy Thursday
By William Blake
‘Twas on a Holy Thursday, their
innocent faces clean,
The
children walking two & two in red & blue & green:
Grey headed
beadles walked before with wands as white as snow,
Till into
the high dome of Pauls they like Thames waters flow.
O what a
multitude they seemed, these flowers of London town!
Seated in
companies they sit with radiance all their own.
The hum of
multitudes was there but multitudes of lambs,
Thousands
of little boys & girls raising their innocent hands.
Now like a
mighty wind they raise to heaven the voice of song,
Or like
harmonious thunderings the seats of heaven among:
Beneath
them sit the aged men wise guardians of the poor.
Then
cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from your door.
“Holy Thursday” appears in William Blake’s collection of poems “Songs of
Innocence” published in 1789. The poem presents a vivid picture of the annual Ascension
Day service in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, where children from charity school
would gather. The poet uses a concrete event in order to reflect on human
attitudes and poverty in England. Their innocence is stressed and they are
associated with vibrant colours of “red and blue and green” as opposed to the “grey”
Blake attaches to the beadles, minor Parish officials whose duties included keeping
order at services.
First Stanza
The poem begins by setting the scene on “Holy Thursday”, a day commemorated
with a special church service. The children, are described as having “innocent
faces clean” implying purity and simplicity. They are walking in pairs, dressed
in bright colours (red, blue, and green). The “grey-headed beadles”, who are
the church officials, lead the procession, holding white wands, symbolizing
authority and purity. The children flow into St. Paul’s Cathedral, a grand and
majestic place, likened to the flowing waters of the river Thames, indicating
their large numbers and orderly movement. Their large number also indicate the
widespread poverty in London.
Second Stanza
The children are compared to “multitude” of flowers suggesting their
innocence and beauty. “London town” indicates that children are from London,
highlighting the urban setting. They are seated in form of groups, maintaining
their orderly arrangement. Their presence is described as radiant which
highlights their natural innocence and inner light. The noise made by the
children is described as “hum of multitudes” suggesting large number of
children. The children are described as multitudes of lambs reinforcing their
innocence and gentleness. It may have some possible religious connotations as
well, as lambs are often associated with Christ. The image of “thousands of
little boys and girls raising their hands reinforces their collective innocence
and purity.
Third Stanza
The children’s collective song is powerful, like a “might wind”,
suggesting the strength and purity of their voices. It is directed towards Heaven,
indicating piety and devotion. The song is also compared to “harmonious
thunderings” indicating both the power and beauty of their collective voice,
reaching up to Heaven. The older men, possibly the beadles or other officials,
are seated below the children. These men are described as “wise guardians of
the poor”, highlighting their role in caring for the children. The final line
is a moral injunction to cherish pity and compassion. The waring suggests that
showing kindness is essential, as failing to do so might cause one to reject or
harm an innocent being, metaphorically referred to as an angel.
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