William Blake: Songs of Innocence and Experience

William Blake's "Songs of Innocence and Experience," combined in this little volume, are both filled with amazing poetry. In "Songs of Innocence," Blake reveals the true innocent and peaceful ways of a person's childhood. While most people remember William Blake for "Tyger, tyger, burning bright" and "Little Lamb, who made thee?" his other poems are wonderful as well. The point of the poems doesn't seem to be that aging brings experience, but that experience changes innocence, to some degree. For instance, the "Chimney Sweep" is about children who work as chimney sweeps but dream of heaven. Many of the poems have symbolic and religious meanings. The imagery is beautiful and poignant. One of William Blake's most famous poems, "The Lamb," tells the story of a young boy asking an innocent lamb, "Who made thee?" "The Lamb" is religious and very pleasant to read. "Songs of Experience" is a book filled with deceitful and cruel poems. The book's poems are based on the hardships of the "real" world. "The Tyger," a famous poem from "Songs of Experience," is a contrary poem to "The Lamb." Though "The Tyger" speaks of God the Creator of all things, the poem has a dark theme and setting unlike "The Lamb." William Blake's "Songs of Innocence and Experience" are two enjoyable works to read, highly recommended for anyone who appreciates meaning and depth in poetry.