The lamb : blake's depiction of innocence

William Blake is one of my favourite poets. I love his themes , his diction and elegant rhyming of the verses. His poems have deeper meaning when analysed carefully which are very interesting but to get hold of that actual intended meaning i often have to read a book or an article.

 But i prefer interpreting poems on the basis of my taste and understanding. And that my own interpretation is the reason i remember some of my favourite poems. The lamb is one of them.

The lamb    by William Blake

little lamb who made thee
dost thou know who made thee
gave thee life and bid thee feed
by the stream and o'er the mead
gave thee clothing of delight
softest clothing wooly and bright
gave thee such a tender voice
making all the vales rejoice
little lamb who mad 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 and he is mild
he became a little child
i a child and thou a lamb
we are called by his name
little lamb God bless thee
little lamb God bless thee


I would like to appreciate this poem as a beautiful dialogue of purity and innocence. It builds up a picture of large innocent eyes of young lamb or a little child, not polluted yet by the life experience.

The delicate use of phrases such as "clothing of delight", "softest clothing", "tender voice", "wooly and bright" further enhances the naivety illustrated throughout. I find the last two phrases of the poem as the peak of its sincerity. The phrase "little lamb God bless thee" is something unforgettable for me because it evokes a powerful expression of affection bestowed towards a fellow member of mother nature.

I am not a Christian and i don't believe in God. But that phrase which is full of love uttered to a little lamb makes my heart lighter every time i read this poem..