William Blake

Auguries of Innocence

Microcosm & Macrocosm

Blake suggests entire universes exist in tiny objects. Philosophical concept of interconnectedness between small and large scales.

To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour
A Robin Red breast in a Cage

Suffering of Animals

Blake views animal mistreatment as a moral and cosmic transgression. Each creature's pain has metaphysical consequences.

Puts all Heaven in a Rage
A Dove house filld with Doves and Pigeons
Shudders Hell thro all its regions
A Dog starvd at his Masters Gate
Predicts the ruin of the State
A Horse misused upon the Road
Calls to Heaven for Human blood
Each outcry of the hunted Hare
A fibre from the Brain does tear
A Skylark wounded in the wing
A Cherubim does cease to sing
The Game Cock clipd and armd for fight
Does the Rising sun affright
Every Wolfs and Lions howl
Raises from Hell a Human Soul
The wild deer wandring here & there
Keeps the Human Soul from care
The lamb misusd breeds public strife
And yet forgives the Butchers Knife
The Bat that flits at close of eve
Has left the Brain that won't believe
The Owl that calls upon the night
Speaks the Unbelievers Fright

Cosmic Justice

Minor cruelties have universal repercussions. Actions against small creatures trigger metaphysical punishment.

He who shall hurt the little Wren
Shall never be belovd by men
He who the Ox to wrath has movd
Shall never be by Woman lovd
The wanton Boy that kills the Fly
Shall feel the Spiders enmity
He who torments the Chafers sprite
Weaves a Bower in endless Night
The Catterpiller on the leaf
Repeats to thee thy Mothers grief
Kill not the Moth nor Butterfly
For the Last Judgement draweth nigh
He who shall train the Horse to war
Shall never pass the Polar Bar
The Beggars dog & Widows Cat
Feed them and thou wilt grow fat
The Gnat that sings his Summers song
Poison gets from Slanders Tongue
The poison of the Snake and Newt
Is the sweat of Envys Foot
The Poison of the Honey Bee
Is the Artist's Jealousy
The Princes Robes and Beggars Rags
Are Toadstools on the Misers Bags
A Truth thats told with bad intent
Beats all the Lies you can invent
It is right it should be so
Man was made for Joy & Woe
And when this we rightly Know
Thro the World we safely go
Joy & woe are woven fine
A Clothing for the soul divine
Under every grief & pine
Runs a joy with silken twine
The Babe is more than Swaddling Bands
Throughout all these Human Lands
Tools were made & Born were hands
Every Farmer Understands
Every Tear from Every Eye
Becomes a Babe in Eternity
This is caught by Females bright
And returnd to its own Delight
The Bleat the Bark Bellow & Roar
Are Waves that Beat on Heavens Shore
The Babe that weeps the Rod beneath
Writes Revenge in realms of Death
The Beggars Rags fluttering in Air
Does to Rags the Heavens tear
The Soldier armd with Sword & Gun
Palsied strikes the Summers Sun
The poor Mans Farthing is worth more

Social Critique

Blake condemns systemic economic inequality. The poorest person's contribution is more valuable than imperial wealth.

Than all the Gold on Africs Shore
One Mite wrung from the Labrers hands
Shall buy & sell the Misers Lands
Or if protected from on high
Does that whole Nation sell & buy
He who mocks the Infants Faith
Shall be mockd in Age & Death
He who shall teach the Child to Doubt
The rotting Grave shall neer get out
He who respects the Infants faith
Triumphs over Hell & Death
The Childs Toys & the Old Mans Reasons
Are the Fruits of the Two seasons
The Questioner who sits so sly
Shall never know how to Reply
He who replies to words of Doubt
Doth put the Light of Knowledge out
The Strongest Poison ever known
Came from Caesars Laurel Crown
Nought can Deform the Human Race
Like to the Armours iron brace
When Gold & Gems adorn the Plow
To peaceful Arts shall Envy Bow
A Riddle or the Crickets Cry
Is to Doubt a fit Reply
The Emmets Inch & Eagles Mile
Make Lame Philosophy to smile
He who Doubts from what he sees
Will neer Believe do what you Please
If the Sun & Moon should Doubt
Theyd immediately Go out
To be in a Passion you Good may Do
But no Good if a Passion is in you
The Whore & Gambler by the State
Licencd build that Nations Fate
The Harlots cry from Street to Street
Shall weave Old Englands winding Sheet
The Winners Shout the Losers Curse
Dance before dead Englands Hearse
Every Night & every Morn
Some to Misery are Born
Every Morn & every Night
Some are Born to Sweet Delight
Some are Born to Sweet Delight
Some are Born to Endless Night

Spiritual Perception

True understanding requires transcending physical perception. Doubt blocks spiritual insight.

We are led to Believe a Lie
When we see not Thro the Eye
Which was Born in a Night to perish in a Night
When the Soul Slept in Beams of Light
God Appears & God is Light
To those poor Souls who dwell in Night
But does a Human Form Display
To those who Dwell in Realms of day
Source Wikipedia Poetry Foundation

Reading Notes

Blake's Mystical Worldview

Romantic mysticism defines Blake's radical perspective: every action reverberates through spiritual and material realms. Animals, insects, and human interactions are not isolated—they're interconnected cosmic events.

The poem operates as a spiritual ecosystem where cruelty, compassion, doubt, and faith have immediate metaphysical consequences. Blake sees the universe as fundamentally responsive: harm a wren, and you're condemned; respect a child's innocence, and you triumph over spiritual darkness.

CONTEXT Writing during the Industrial Revolution, Blake witnessed increasing mechanization and human disconnection from nature. This poem is a passionate argument for radical empathy and spiritual interconnectedness.

Poetic Structure & Symbolism

Blake uses rapid, aphoristic lines that function like spiritual proverbs. Each couplet is a complete philosophical statement, creating a rhythmic, almost biblical cadence.

Symbolic animals and natural objects become metaphysical agents. A robin in a cage isn't just a bird, but a cosmic protest; a gnat's song carries spiritual significance. Blake transforms mundane observations into profound spiritual commentary.

The poem's final sections emphasize human spiritual variability—some are born to misery, some to delight, some to 'Endless Night'—suggesting that spiritual perception determines one's existential trajectory.