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The Poetry and Prose of William Blake

Edited by David V. Erdman: Commentary by Harold Bloom

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[To go] on 1 Plate

[O lapwing thou fliest around the heath]

O lapwing thou fliest around the heath
Nor seest the net that is spread beneath
Why dost thou not fly among the corn fields
They cannot spread nets where a harvest yields

461

An answer to the parson

Why of the sheep do you not learn peace
Because I dont want you to shear my fleece

[Experiment]

Thou hast a lap full of seed
And this is a fine country
Why dost thou not cast thy seed
And live in it merrily
Shall I cast it on the sand
And turn it into fruitful land
For on no other ground
Can I sow my seed
Without tearing up
Some stinking weed

Riches

The countless gold of a merry heart
The rubies & pearls of a loving eye
The indolent never can bring to the mart
Nor the secret hoard up in his treasury

[If you trap the moment before its ripe]

If you trap the moment before its ripe
The tears of repentance youll certainly wipe
But if once you let the ripe moment go
You can never wipe off the tears of woe