Selected Poems
I Saw a Chapel All of Gold
I saw a chapel all of gold
That none did dare to enter in;
And many, weeping, stood without,
Weeping, mourning, worshipping.
I saw a serpent rise between
The white pillars of the door;
And he forced and forced and forced;
Down the golden hinges tore.
And along the pavement sweet
Set with pearls and rubies bright
All his slimy length he drew
Till upon the altar white
Vomiting his poison out
On the bread and on the wine.
So I turned into a sty
And laid me down among the swine.
The Tyger
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
The Lamb
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost though know who made thee?
Gave thee life & bid thee feed,
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Game thee 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.
The Sick Rose
O rose, thou art sick
The invisible worm
That flies in the night
In the howling storm
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy,
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.