London by William Blake

Blake's London was written in 1794. Blake is now generally considered as one of the Romantic poets as, like them, much of his writing is concerned with the injustices in society and the loss of personal freedom.

I find Blake's poetry incredibly powerful, especially knowing that Blake thought his writing could actually change the world for the better.

It seems tragic that over 220 years after Blake wrote this poem, there is still poverty and suffering on the streets of London. Maybe Blake still has a message for us to hear today.

There is a good documentary about Blake here: William Blake Biography

London

I wandered thro’ each charter’d street,
Near where the charter’d Thames does flow,
And mark in every face I meet,
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every Man,
In every infant's cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forg’d manacles I hear:

How the Chimney-sweeper's cry
Every black’ning Church appals,
And the hapless Soldier's sigh
Runs in blood down Palace-walls.

But most, thro’ midnight streets I hear
How the youthful Harlot's curse
Blasts the new-born infant's tear,
And blights with plagues the Marriage-hearse.

By William Blake

Here is my brief video about the poem: London by William Blake