The Poetry and Art of William Blake
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Songs of Innocence and Experience
William Blake (28 November 1757 - 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. His prophetic poetry has been said to form "what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language". His visual artistry has led one modern critic to proclaim him "far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced". (from wikipedia)
My Favorite Video on Blake
Songs of Innocence (Introduction)
The Echoing Green - verse 1
By William Blake
The Sun does arise,
And make happy the skies.
The merry bells ring,
To welcome the Spring.
The sky-lark and thrush,
The birds of the bush,
Sing louder around,
To the bells chearful sound,
While our sports shall be seen
On the Ecchoing Green.
Old John with white hair
Does laugh away care,
Sitting under the oak,
Among the old folk.
The Echoing Green - verse 2
They laugh at our play,
And soon they all say,
Such such were the joys,
When we all girls & boys,
In our youth time were seen,
On the Ecchoing Green.
Till the little ones weary
No more can be merry
The sun does descend,
And our sports have an end:
Round the laps of their mothers,
Many sisters and brothers,
Like birds in their nest,
Are ready for rest:
And sport no more seen,
On the darkening Green.
William Blake Songs and Poetry online
- sacred texts blake entry
- This is a fascimile reproduction, along with transcribed text, of William Blake's masterpiece of bookmaking, Songs of Innocence and of Experience. These poems are one of the treasures of world literature, simple enough to resonate with children, but with enough exoteric and esoteric meaning to keep a gnostic sage pondering for several lifetimes. Blake's vision of a universe alive on all scales of being is luminously represented in the hand-colored illustrations, which contain clues to the overtones of the text. The poems are also firmly rooted in the misery of 18th century London, and many of them are embued with a politically radical (but still bardic) outlook on the squalid everyday life which surrounded Blake. This is a text which needs to be experienced with both sides of the brain
- Songs of Innocense and Experience on mp3
- This is a librivox audio book version of William Blake Poetry
- CH'AN BUDDHISM AND THE PROPHETIC POEMS OF WILLIAM BLAKE
- MARK S. FERRARA
Journal of Chinese Philosophy
Vo.24 1997
PP. 59-73
Copyright @ 1997 by Dialogue Publising Company, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A. - William Blake Poems set to music
- Settings of his poetic works
Cradle Song (Huub de Lange)
The Fly (Huub de Lange)
The Fly (Ty Kroll)
Jerusalem (Charles Hubert Hastings Parry)
The Lamb (Eric Haas)
The Land Of Dreams (Huub de Lange)
Laughing Song (Huub de Lange)
The Little Black Boy (Huub de Lange)
Mercy, Pity, Peace (Ty Kroll)
Symphony of Dreams (Huub de Lange)
Symphony of Light and Shadow (Huub de Lange)
As thy softest limbs I feel
Smiles as of the morning steal
O'er thy cheek, and o'er thy breast
Where thy little heart doth rest.
O the cunning wiles that creep
In thy little heart asleep!
When thy little heart doth wake,
Then the dreadful night shall break.
Great Stuff on Amazon
Oberon Titania and Puck
Dancing Fairies
n 1782, Blake met John Flaxman, who was to become his patron, and Catherine Boucher, who was to become his wife. At the time, Blake was recovering from a relationship that had culminated in a refusal of his marriage proposal. Telling Catherine and her parents the story, she expressed her sympathy, whereupon Blake asked her, "Do you pity me?" To Catherine's affirmative response he responded, "Then I love you." Blake married Catherine - who was five years his junior - on 18 August 1782 in St. Mary's Church, Battersea. Illiterate, Catherine signed her wedding contract with an 'X'. Later, in addition to teaching Catherine to read and write, Blake trained her as an engraver. Throughout his life she would prove an invaluable aid to him, helping to print his illuminated works and maintaining his spirits throughout numerous misfortunes.
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Geeve
Aug 10, 2011 @ 5:16 pm | delete
- A visually exciting and interesting lens, worthy of a blessing :)
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indigogirl Nov 26, 2010 @ 7:27 pm | delete
- It always amazes me how when paintings by Blake I come across whilst visiting English stately homes. It's always a delight because he is such an accomplished artist. His art certainly captures the imagination whether it's in verse, on canvas or on paper. Cool lens.
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Martin of Switzerland
Aug 7, 2009 @ 9:07 am | delete
- Thank you for letting me have a glimpse at Blake. Nice site.
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ilovemusic
May 7, 2009 @ 6:12 pm | delete
- Thank you for this excellent introduction to the poetry and art of William Blake. I enjoyed the brief biographical notes on Blake too. 5 stars!
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