The
Clod and the Pebble
By
William Blake
'Love seeketh not itself to please,
Nor for itself hath any care,
But for another gives its ease,
And builds a heaven in hell's despair.'
So sung a little clod of clay,
Trodden with the cattle's feet;
But a pebble of the brook
Warbled out these meters meet:
'Love seeketh only Self to please,
To bind another to its delight,
Joys in another's loss of ease,
And builds a hell in heaven's despite.'
The poem was first published in William Blake’s collection of poems “Songs
of Experience” in 1794. The poem contrasts two opposing views on love,
represented by a soft clod of clay and a hard pebble. The clod represents the
more optimistic and perhaps a naive perspective, which views love as a kind of
radical selflessness and the willingness to sacrifice. On the other hand, the
pebble declares love as pure selfishness. However, the poet does not validate any
of the two view points and leaves it to the reader to decide for themselves.
First Stanza
In the first stanza, Blake introduces the perspective of the clod of
clay. The clod speaks of selfless love, which does not seek to satisfy itself
or care for its own comfort. Instead, it sacrifices its own ease for the sake
of another. This kind of love transforms even the most despairing situations
into a place of joy and bliss. The clod represents a soft, yielding, and humble
view of love, characterized by selflessness and sacrifice.
Second Stanza
The second stanza sets the scene and introduces the two contrasting
voices. The clod of clay, found in a humble and lowly place, trodden by cattle,
expresses the selfless nature of love. However, the stanza then shifts to the
pebble, which is found in a brook. The pebble’s song offers a contrasting view
of love. The word “warbled” suggests a musical but perhaps less sincere tone,
hinting at a more self-centred perspective on love.
Third Stanza
In the final stanza, the pebble provides its perspective on love, which
starkly contrasts with that of the clod. According to the pebble, love is
selfish, seeking only to please itself and to bind another person to its own
desires. This form of love takes pleasure in the discomfort or sacrifice of the
other, transforming a heavenly state (Heaven) into one of torment and suffering
(Hell). The pebble represents a hard, unyielding, and egocentric view of love,
characterized by self-interest and manipulation.
Conclusion
The poem uses clod and the pebble to symbolize two extreme perspectives
on love. The clod’s view reflects an idealized, selfless love that seeks to
elevate and comfort others, even at its own expense. In contrast, the pebble’s
view represents a more cynical, selfish love that seeks to dominate and control
others for its own pleasure, regardless of the consequences for the loved one.
By juxtaposing these two perspectives, Blake invites the readers to reflect
on the nature of love and to consider the implications of each viewpoint. The poem’s
structure, with its symmetrical stanzas and alternating voices, emphasizes the
stark contrast between the two kinds of love, highlighting the moral and
emotional choices involved in relationships.
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