I’m having trouble leaving my favorite poets and poems behind…
This is not only one of my favorite poems, but also one of my favorite hymns.
It’s the unofficial anthem of England, and my personal anthem forever.
Jerusalem
William Blake
ND did those feet in ancient time
- Walk upon England’s mountains green?
- And was the holy Lamb of God
- On England’s pleasant pastures seen?
- And did the Countenance Divine
- Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
- And was Jerusalem builded here
- Among these dark Satanic Mills?
- Bring me my bow of burning gold!
- Bring me my arrows of desire!
- Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
- Bring me my chariot of fire!
- I will not cease from mental fight,
- Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
- Till we have built Jerusalem
- In England’s green and pleasant land.
Related articles
- “Jerusalem” (treeofmamre.wordpress.com)
- Jerusalem, The Olympics and Zion (merovee.wordpress.com)
- Chariots of Fire [Daniel Roberts] (ecademy.com)
- England’s Green and Pleasant Land (whatdoiknow.typepad.com)
- Olympians: Caliban and Blake (echovar.com)
I know I should know this because I studied the Romantic poets once upon a time but was it Blake who wrote a poem about children?
Yes, he wrote poems for and about children, JM. He wrote “Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience.” One of his well known “innocence” poems is “The Lamb” and probably his most well known “experience” poem is “The Tyger.” I studied him in college–I was smitten!
Thank you for answering this! I was at loose ends!!
Deb
Wonderful post and a hymn I also love. Thank you.
I’m getting a bit off the bee/flower/honey topics. But to me, these seem to be related!!
Deb
Have you ever seen the Last Night of the Proms from the Albert Hall?. If you like this poem / hymn you will love it when it is sung near the end. Absolutely nothing like it – and I guess it will be on iplayer. The Proms are on now – can’t remember when the final night happens there has been so much this year.
I have not, but always wanted to. I was in London in June, in between fabulous goings-on! What a divine year!!
Deb
Here is a link to a video of just Jerusalem from the Proms – not sure which year http://youtu.be/UQ0oCmDXrVk The Welsh and The Scots seem to enjoy it even though it mentions Englands green and pleasant land. Ignore the comments below.
Thank you so much for the link!!
xo Deb
I love William Blake, Deborah. “The Tyger” is one of my all time favorite poems, and “Jerusalem” is a masterpiece, as well. Thanks for posting this!
You are so very welcome! I sing this to myself more often than I would like to admit!!
I love all of Blake as well….
xo Deb
A most thought provoking and soul reaching poem/hymn
I love this, it was my Father’s favourite hymn, and we played it at his funeral…. Very emotive x
I agree. It never fails to make me tear up. D