Holy Thursday

By William Blake

William Blake (1757-1827) was an English poet, painter, and visionary, whose work combines profound spiritual themes with intense, often mystical imagery. Blake’s unique style blends poetry and visual art, making him a pioneer figure in Romantic literature and art. His work, though underappreciated in his lifetime, is now celebrated for its originality and depth.“Holy Thursday” appears in his collection of poems “Songs of Innocence” published in 1789. The poem presents a vivid picture of the annual Ascension Day service in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, where children from charity schools would gather. The poet uses a concrete event to reflect on human attitudes and poverty in England. Their innocence is stressed and they are associated with vibrant colors of “red and blue and green” as opposed to the “grey” Blake attaches to the beadles, minor Parish officials whose duties included keeping order at services.

Text of the Poem.

‘Twas on a Holy Thursday, their innocent faces clean,
The children walking two & two in red & blue & green:
Grey headed beadles walked before with wands as white as snow,
Till into the high dome of Pauls they like Thames waters flow.

O what a multitude they seemed, these flowers of London town!
Seated in companies they sit with radiance all their own.
The hum of multitudes was there but multitudes of lambs,
Thousands of little boys & girls raising their innocent hands.

Now like a mighty wind they raise to heaven the voice of song,
Or like harmonious thunderings the seats of heaven among:
Beneath them sit the aged men wise guardians of the poor.
Then cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from your door.

First Stanza

The poem begins by setting the scene on “Holy Thursday”, a day commemorated with a special church service. The children are described as having “innocent faces clean” implying purity and simplicity. They are walking in pairs, dressed in bright colors (red, blue, and green). The “grey-headed beadles”, who are the church officials, lead the procession, holding white wands, symbolizing authority and purity. The children flow into St. Paul’s Cathedral, a grand and majestic place, likened to the flowing waters of the river Thames, indicating their large numbers and orderly movement. Their large number also indicates the widespread poverty in London.

Second Stanza

The children are compared to the “multitude” of flowers suggesting their innocence and beauty. “London town” indicates that children are from London, highlighting the urban setting. They are seated in the form of groups, maintaining their orderly arrangement. Their presence is described as radiant which highlights their natural innocence and inner light. The noise made by the children is described as “hum of multitudes” suggesting a large number of children. The children are described as multitudes of lambs reinforcing their innocence and gentleness. It may have some possible religious connotations as well, as lambs are often associated with Christ. The image of “thousands of little boys and girls raising their hands reinforces their collective innocence and purity.

Third Stanza

The children’s collective song is powerful, like a “mighty wind”, suggesting the strength and purity of their voices. It is directed towards Heaven, indicating piety and devotion. The song is also compared to “harmonious thunderings” indicating both the power and beauty of their collective voice, reaching up to Heaven. The older men, possibly the beadles or other officials, are seated below the children. These men are described as “wise guardians of the poor”, highlighting their role in caring for the children. The final line is a moral injunction to cherish pity and compassion. The warning suggests that showing kindness is essential, as failing to do so might cause one to reject or harm an innocent being, metaphorically referred to as an angel.