William Blake: The Lamb

Hareshwar Roy,
William Blake: The Lamb

William Blake's 'The Lamb' is a celebrated lyric poem from his 1789 collection, Songs of Innocence. Written in a gentle, song-like rhythm, the poem explores themes of divine creation, purity, and unconditional love. Through a dialogue between a child and a lamb, Blake connects the innocence of nature directly to Jesus Christ, who is symbolized as both a lamb and a child, celebrating the harmonious relationship between God, humanity, and creation.

TEXT:
William Blake: The Lamb

Little Lamb who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life & bid thee feed.
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice!
Little Lamb who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb I'll tell thee!
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek & he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Little Lamb God bless thee.

Glossary:

Mead: A meadow or grassy field.
Vales: Valleys or low-lying areas between hills.
Meek: Quiet, gentle, and submissive in a humble way.
Mild: Gentle in temper and behavior.

Notes:

Tone and Style: The poem uses a simple, musical rhythm that mimics traditional nursery rhymes or Christian hymns, making complex spiritual ideas easy to understand.

Symbolism of the Lamb: The lamb represents innocence, purity, gentleness, and Christ, who is frequently referred to in Christian tradition as the "Lamb of God."

Structure: Divided into two stanzas, the first stanza asks questions about the creation of the lamb, while the second stanza provides the spiritual answer, linking the child, the lamb, and Jesus Christ together under a shared divine identity.
Location: B-37, City Homes Colony, Jawahar Nagar Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
Dr. Hareshwar Roy beautifully connects global research with local literature. Born in 1964 in Jamuaon (Bhojpur, Bihar), he studied at Patna University and earned his Ph.D. from APS University, Rewa. Currently, he serves as Professor of English at Government P.G. College Satna, Madhya Pradesh. Dr. Roy bridges two worlds: in class, he explains international migration and literary history, while in his heart, he keeps the rich spirit of the Bhojpuri language alive. He has published over 45 research papers focused on Indian Diaspora Writing. As an author in English, he has written Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji, A Study of M.G. Vassanji's Novels, Varieties of Indianity in the Works of M.G. Vassanji and Rohinton Mistry, Diaspora and Indian Diaspora: A Brief Study, Short Notes of English Literature - I and Short Notes of English Literature - II. Rooted in his soil, he is a celebrated Bhojpuri poet featured on 'Kavita Kosh' and in popular collections like Hamar Pahchan Ha Bhojpuri, Hamra Pyar Ho Gail, and Bhojpuri Kavitayein. Ultimately, his life and writings serve as an inspiring example of how academic scholarship and local roots thrive together perfectly.

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