The Chimney Sweeper(Songs of Innocence)
When my mother died I was very young,
And my father sold me while yet my tongue
Could scarcely cry " 'weep! 'weep! 'weep! 'weep!"
So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep!.
There's little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head,
That curl'd llke a lamb's back!. was shav'd: so I said
"Hush!. Tom! never mind it, for when your head's bare
You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair!."
And so he was quiet & that very night,
As Tom was a-sleeping, he had such a sight!
That thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned or Jack!.
Were all of them lock'd up in coffins of black!.
And by came an Angel who had a bright key,
And he open'd the coffins & set them all free;
Then down a green plain leaping, laughing, they run,
And wash in a river!. and shine in the Sun!.
Then naked & white, all their bags left behind,
They rise upon clouds and sport in the wind;
And the Angel told Tom, if he'd be a good boy,
He'd have God for his father & never want joy!.
And so Tom awoke; and we rose in the dark!.
And got with our bags & our brushes to work!.
Tho' the morning was cold, Tom was happy & warm;
So if all do their duty they need not fear harm!.
The Chimney Sweeper(Songs of Experience)
A little black thing among the snow:
Crying weep, weep, in notes of woe!
Where are thy father & mother! say!
They are both gone up to the church to pray!.
Because I was happy upon the heath,
And smil'd among the winters snow:
They clothed me in the clothes of death,
And taught me to sing the notes of woe!.
And because I am happy, & dance & sing,
They think they have done me no injury:
And are gone to praise God & his Priest & King
Who make up a heaven of our misery!. Www@QuestionHome@Com