Five Blake Songs

Thou hearest the nightingale begin the song of spring;
The lark, sitting upon his earthy bed, just as the morn
Appears, listens silent; then, springing from the waving corn-field, loud
He leads the choir of day: trill -- trill -- trill -- trill -- 
Mounting upon the wings of light into the great expanse,
Re-echoing against the lovely blue and shining heavenly shell.
His little throat labours with inspiration; every feather
On throat, and breast, and wing, vibrate with the effluence divine.
All nature listens to him silent; and the awful Sun
Stands still upon the mountains, looking on this little bird
With eyes of soft humility, and wonder, love, and awe.
Then loud, from their green covert, all the birds begin their song, -- 
The thrush, the linnet and the goldfinch, robin and the wren,
Awake the Sun from his sweet reverie upon the mountains;
The nightingale again essays his song, and through the day
And through the night warbles luxuriant; every bird of song
Attending his loud harmony with admiration and love.

Thou perceivest the Flowers put forth their precious Odours,
And none can tell how from so small a centre come such sweet,
Forgetting that within that centre Eternity expands
Its ever-during doors, that Og and Anak fiercely guard.
First, ere the morning breaks, joy opens in the flowery bosoms, 
Joy even to tears, which the sun rising dries : first the Wild Thyme 
And Meadowsweet, downy and soft, waving among the reeds, 
Light springing on the air, lead the sweet dance ; they wake 
The Honeysuckle sleeping on the oak, the flaunting beauty 
Revels along upon the wind ; the White-thorn, lovely May,
Opens her many lovely eyes ; listening, the Rose still sleeps --
None dare to wake her ; soon she bursts her crimson-curtained bed
And comes forth in the majesty of beauty. Every Flower, 
The Pink, the Jessamine, the Wall-flower, the Carnation, 
The Jonquil, the mild Lily opes her heavens ; every Tree 
And Flower and Herb soon fill the air with an innumerable dance, 
Yet all in order sweet and lovely. Men are sick with love!

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