aefenglommung (aefenglommung) wrote,
aefenglommung
aefenglommung

Off the beaten path

Most of us literary types know a little of William Blake -- mostly The Tyger. He is heavily anthologized, but only a few of his pieces are ever used. Here's a little ditty I found, recently, in a facsimile edition of Songs of Experience I picked up cheap in Bloomington. What do you make of it?


THE LITTLE VAGABOND

Dear Mother, dear Mother, the Church is cold,
But the Ale-house is healthy & pleasant & warm;
Besides I can tell where I am use'd well,
Such usage in heaven will never do well.

But if at the Church they would give us some Ale.
And a pleasant fire, our souls to regale;
We'd sing and we'd pray, all the live-long day;
Nor ever once wish from the Church to stray.

Then the Parson might preach & drink & sing.
And we'd be as happy as birds in the spring:
And modest dame Lurch, who is always at Church,
Would not have bandy children nor fasting nor birch.

And God like a father rejoicing to see,
His children as pleasant and happy as he:
Would have no more quarrel with the Devil or the Barrel
But kiss him & give him both drink and apparel.
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  • 10 comments

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    Over a long and varied life in Scouting, I have somehow avoided taking Wood Badge, the top leadership course for Scouters. There are various reasons…

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