Nurse's Song by William Blake
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Nurse’s
Song
By
William Blake
When voices of children are heard on the green,
And laughing is heard on the hill,
My heart is at rest within my breast,
And everything else is still.
‘Then come home my children the sun is gone down,
And the dews of night arise;
Come, come, leave off play, and let us away,
Till the morning appears in the skies.’
‘No, no, let us play, for it is yet day,
And we cannot go to sleep;
Besides, in the sky, the little birds fly,
And the hills are all covered with sheep.’
‘Well, well, go and play till the light fades away,
And then go home to bed.’
The little ones leaped, and shouted, and laughed,
And all the hills echoed.
The poem is a part
of William Blake’s collection of poems “Songs of Innocence” published in 1789. It
depicts a joyful scene, in which a nurse watches the children in her care as they
play outside. The nurse finds happiness in the sounds and glee of the children,
and she permits them to continue playing when they request more time before
having to return home. Through the nurse’s gentleness and warmth, the poem
depicts a world that cherishes and prioritizes the innocence, curiosity, and
freedom of childhood. It is one of the seven poem titles to appear in both “Songs
of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience”.
First Stanza
In the first stanza,
the speaker (a nurse) expresses a sense of peace and contentment that arises
from hearing the joyful sounds of children playing outside. The “voices of
children” and “laughing on the hill” evoke a lively and carefree atmosphere. The
nurse feels a deep sense of inner calm and satisfaction (“my heart is at rest
within my breast”), suggesting that the happiness of the children brings her
great joy and tranquility. The phrase “everything else is still” indicates
that this joy quiets any other concerns or distractions, allowing the nurse to
fully appreciate the moment.
Second Stanza
In the second
stanza, the nurse calls the children to come home as the day ends (“the sun is
gone down”) and night begins to fall (“the dews of night arise”). The nurse
gently urges the children to stop playing (“leave off play”) and return home for
the night. The tone remains nurturing and caring, emphasizing the nurse’s
protective role. She assures the children that they can continue their play the
next day (“till the morning appears in the skies”), indicating that this joyful
and innocent play is a regular and cherished part of their lives.
Third Stanza
In the next stanza,
the children respond to the nurse’s call, expressing their desire to keep
playing. They argue that it is still daytime (“it is yet day”) and that they
are not ready to go to sleep. The children point out the continued activity in
nature (“the little birds fly” and “the hills are all covered with sheep”), suggesting
that the world around them is still lively and vibrant. Their plea reflects
their enthusiasm and energy, as well as a sense of freedom and connection to
the natural world.
Fourth Stanza
In the final stanza,
the nurse acquiesces to the children’s request, allowing them to continue
playing until it becomes too dark (“till the light fades away”). She then
gently reminds them that they will need to go home to bed afterwards. The children’s
joyous reaction (“leaped and shouted, and laughed”) emphasizes their happiness
and the lively spirit of their play. The echoing hills suggest that their joy
is so profound and exuberant that it reverberates through the natural
surroundings, highlighting the harmonious relationship between the children and
their environment.
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