Introduction (Songs of Experience)
By William Blake
Hear the voice of the Bard!
Who
Present, Past, & Future sees
Whose ears
have heard
The Holy
Word,
That walk'd
among the ancient trees.
Calling the
lapsed Soul
And weeping
in the evening dew;
That might
controll.
The starry
pole;
And fallen
fallen light renew!
O Earth O
Earth return!
Arise from
out the dewy grass;
Night is
worn,
And the
morn
Rises from
the slumbrous mass.
Turn away
no more:
Why wilt
thou turn away
The starry
floor
The watery
shore
Is given
thee till the break of day.
This is the first poem in the series of verses in the “Songs of
Experience” published in 1794. It serves as prologue to the collection while
contrasting with the “Songs of Innocence”. There is a marked departure form the
clarity and simplicity of “Songs of innocence” to intricate symbolism and
mysticism.
First Stanza
In the opening stanza, the speaker introduces a prophetic figure, referred
to as the “Bard”. This Bard is depicted as a seer with the ability to perceive
all of time-past, present, and future. This visionary has also heard “The Holy
Word,” symbolizing divine or spiritual wisdom. The reference to the word “among
the ancient trees” evokes an image of an Edenic or primordial time, suggesting
a connection to the divine presence in nature and the lost paradise of innocence.
Second Stanza
Here, the bard is depicted as calling out to the “lapsed soul,” a soul
that has strayed from its original state of grace or innocence. The imagery of “weeping
in the evening dew” suggests a sense of mourning or sorrow for the lost
innocence. The bard’s call is a plea for redemption, seeking to restore the
fallen soul to its former purity. The “starry pole” likely refers to the
heavens or the celestial order, which the Bard hopes to influence or restore to
harmony, renewing the “fallen light” of human spirit and understanding.
Third Stanza
The Bard’s appeal now turns to the Earth itself, urging it to “return”
and awaken from its state of slumber and disarray. The imagery of rising “from
out the dewy grass” implies a revival or renewal, as dew often symbolizes
freshness and new beginning. The statement that “Night is worn” suggests that
period of darkness or ignorance is coming to an end, and the “morn” or morning
is beginning, bringing light, knowledge, and enlightenment.
Fourth Stanza
In the final stanza, the Bard implores Earth and humanity to cease
turning away from truth and enlightenment. The repeated plea “Turn away no more”
emphasizes the urgency and importance of the awakening. The “starry floor” (the
heavens) and “wat’ry shore” (the earth) are presented as gifts to humanity,
meant to be embraced and understood before “the break of day”-a metaphor for a
new era of enlightenment or the return to a state of grace.
Blake’s Introduction to “Songs of Experience” functions as a call to
awakening and enlightenment, contrasting the innocence lost with the potential
for renewed understanding. The Bard, as a prophetic figure, symbolizes the
voices of divine wisdom and vision, urging humanity to recognize its fallen
state and strive towards spiritual and moral renewal. The poem reflects Blake’s
broader themes of innocence, experience, and redemption, encouraging readers to
transcend their current state and seek a higher, more enlightened existence.
Comments
Post a Comment