Introduction (Songs of Experience)

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 in Romantic literature and art. His work, though underappreciated in his lifetime, is now celebrated for its originality and depth. This is the first poem in the series of verses in the “Songs of Experience” published in 1794. It serves as a prologue to the collection while contrasting with the “Songs of Innocence”. There is a marked departure from the clarity and simplicity of “Songs of Innocence” to intricate symbolism and mysticism.

Hear the voice of the Bard!
Who Present, Past, & Future sees
Whose ears have heard
The Holy Word,
That walk’d among the ancient trees.

Calling the lapsed Soul
And weeping in the evening dew;
That might controll.
The starry pole;
And fallen fallen light renew!

O Earth O Earth return!
Arise from out the dewy grass;
Night is worn,
And the morn
Rises from the slumbrous mass.

Turn away no more:
Why wilt thou turn away
The starry floor
The watery shore
Is given thee till the break of day.

First Stanza

In the opening stanza, the speaker introduces a prophetic figure, referred to as the “Bard”. This Bard is depicted as a seer with the ability to perceive all of time-past, present, and future. This visionary has also heard “The Holy Word,” symbolizing divine or spiritual wisdom. The reference to the word “among the ancient trees” evokes an image of an Edenic or primordial time, suggesting a connection to the divine presence in nature and the lost paradise of innocence.

Second Stanza

Here, the bard is depicted as calling out to the “lapsed soul,” a soul that has strayed from its original state of grace or innocence. The imagery of “weeping in the evening dew” suggests a sense of mourning or sorrow for the lost innocence. The bard’s call is a plea for redemption, seeking to restore the fallen soul to its former purity. The “starry pole” likely refers to the heavens or the celestial order, which the Bard hopes to influence or restore to harmony, renewing the “fallen light” of human spirit and understanding.

Third Stanza

The Bard’s appeal now turns to the Earth itself, urging it to “return” and awaken from its state of slumber and disarray. The imagery of rising “from out the dewy grass” implies a revival or renewal, as dew often symbolizes freshness and a new beginning. The statement that “Night is worn” suggests that the period of darkness or ignorance is coming to an end, and the “morn” or morning is beginning, bringing light, knowledge, and enlightenment.

Fourth Stanza

In the final stanza, the Bard implores Earth and humanity to cease turning away from truth and enlightenment. The repeated plea “Turn away no more” emphasizes the urgency and importance of the awakening. The “starry floor” (the heavens) and “wat’ry shore” (the earth) are presented as gifts to humanity, meant to be embraced and understood before “the break of day” -a metaphor for a new era of enlightenment or the return to a state of grace. Blake’s Introduction to “Songs of Experience” functions as a call to awakening and enlightenment, contrasting the innocence lost with the potential for renewed understanding. The Bard, as a prophetic figure, symbolizes the voices of divine wisdom and vision, urging humanity to recognize its fallen state and strive toward spiritual and moral renewal. The poem reflects Blake’s broader themes of innocence, experience, and redemption, encouraging readers to transcend their current state and seek a higher, more enlightened existence.