Piping Down the Valleys Wild

William Blake

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Piping down the valleys wild,
Piping songs of pleasant glee,
On a cloud I saw a child,
And he laughing said to me:

"Pipe a song about a lamb!"
So I piped with merry cheer.
"Piper, pipe that song again."
So I piped: he wept to hear.

"Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe;
Sing thy songs of happy cheer."
So I sung the same again,
While he wept with joy to hear.

"Piper, sit thee down and write
In a book, that all may read."
So he vanished from my sight,
And I plucked a hollow reed,

And I made a rural pen,
And I stained the water clear,
And I wrote my happy songs
Every child may joy to hear.

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Comments1
  • marylyn8779

    "Piping Down the Valleys Wild" speaks to the soul. The message seems to be about the power of song, and how it can express joy and grief alike. The imagery is beautiful too, particularly the scene of the piper and the child. This is a delightfully uplifting piece, I would certainly recommend others to read this poem.