From 'Songs of Innocence' The sun descending in the west, The evening star does shine, The birds are silent in their nest, And I must seek for mine. The moon, like a flower In heaven's high bower, With silent delight, Sits and smiles in the night. Farewell, green fields and happy groves Where flocks have ta'en delight; Where lambs have nibbled, silent move The feet of angels bright; Unseen they pour blessing, And joy without ceasing, On each bud and blossom, And each sleeping bosom. They look in every thoughtless nest, Where birds are covered warm; They visit caves of every beast, To keep them all from harm; If they see any weeping That should have been sleeping, They pour sleep on their head, And sit down by their bed. When wolves and tigers howl for prey, They pitying stand and weep; Seeking to drive their thirst away, And keep them from the sheep. But if they rush dreadful, The angels most heedful Receive each wild spirit, New worlds to inherit. And there the lion's ruddy eyes Shall flow with tears of gold; And pitying the tender cries, And walking round the fold, Saying, "Wrath by His meekness, And by His health, sickness, Are driven away From our immortal day. "And now beside thee, bleating lamb, I can lie down and sleep, Or think on Him who bore thy name, Graze after thee and weep. For washed in life's river, My bright mane forever Shall shine like the gold, As I guard o'er the fold." THE PIPER AND THE CHILD Introduction to 'Songs of Innocence' Piping down the valleys wild, Piping songs of pleasant glee, On a cloud I saw a child, And he laughing said to me:-- "Pipe a song about a lamb." So I piped with merry cheer. "Piper, pipe that song again:" So I piped; he wept to hear. "Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe; Sing thy songs of happy cheer:" So I sang the same again, While he wept with joy to hear. "Piper, sit thee down and write, In a book that all may read." So he vanished from my sight; And I plucked a hollow reed; And I made a rural pen, And I stained the water clear, And I wrote my happy songs Every child may joy to hear. HOLY THURSDAY From 'Songs of Innocence' 'Twas on a Holy Thursday, their innocent faces clean, Came children walking two and two, in red and blue and green: Gray-headed beadles walked before, with wands as white as snow, Till into the high dome of Paul's they like Thames waters flow.