The Two Songs

William Blake

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I heard an Angel Singing
When the day was springing:
"Mercy, pity, and peace,
Are the world's release."

So he sang all day
Over the new-mown hay,
Till the sun went down,
And the haycocks looked brown.

I heard a devil curse
Over the heath and the furse:
"Mercy vould be no more
If there were nobody poor,
And pity no more could be
If all were happy as ye:
And mutual fear brings peace,
Misery's increase
Are mercy, pity, and peace."

At his curse the sun went down,
And the heavens gave a frown.

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Comments1
  • lourdesvida1

    Wow, I dunno why after reading this poem but I feel like there's a double side to everything, like both mercy and curse ARE needed to maintain some sort of balance in the world. Sometimes we got to appreciate the bad and the good together.