The Nurse’s Song Songs of Experience William Blake

Reading of the ‘Nurse’s Song’

When the voices of children are heard on the green (long -

positive)

And whisp'rings are in the dale, (short - negative)

The days of my youth rise fresh in my mind, (long - positive)

My face turns green and pale. (short - negative)

Then come home, my children, the sun is gone down, (long -

negative)

And the dews of night arise; (short- positive)

Your spring & your day are wasted in play (long - negative)

And your winter and night in disguise. (short - negative )

Society corrupts children’s

inherent innocence and imagination while also failing to care for their physical and emotional

needs.

Life is an aimless wearying away and an accumulation of painful mistakes. The memory of the nurse’s own youthful

indiscretions haunts her, making her ill with shame and mistrustful of the children.

All seasons for the nurse, lead to a dismal close, the sun goes down to rise no more and ‘winter and night’ come like age to finish a day or year, or a life that was

endured but that never had any real joy or significance