Meditations on the Divine and the Human

by William Blake

William Blake was an 18th- and 19th-century English poet and artist whose works principally focused on religious, mythological, and existential issues. Although he was impoverished and largely unknown during his lifetime, his philosophical, theological, and artistic contributions are now appreciated as highly innovative and as paradigmatic expressions of Romantic ideals and concerns.

What follows are three illustrated poems that express aspects of Blake’s complex theological thoughts. The first is titled “The Divine Image,” and it is presented as one of the “Songs of Innocence” (the title of the volume in which it was included). By contrast, the similarly titled “A Divine Image,” as well as the third poem, “The Human Abstract,” were published as “Songs of Experience.” As you consider both the similarities and differences of the content of the poems, it is worth meditating on these classifications. In what sense does the first express an “innocent” view? In what sense do the other two express one of experience?

Portrait of William Blake by Thomas Phillips (1807)

The Divine Image

From Songs of Innocence

To Mercy Pity Peace and Love
All pray in their distress:
And to these virtues of delight
Return their thankfulness.

For Mercy Pity Peace and Love
Is God our father dear:
And Mercy Pity Peace and Love
Is Man his child and care.

For Mercy has a human heart
Pity, a human face:
And Love, the human form divine.
And Peace, the human dress.

Then every man of every clime
That prays in his distress,
Prays to the human form divine
Love Mercy Pity Peace.

All must love the human form.
In heathen, turk or jew.
Where Mercy Love & Pity dwell
There God is dwelling too.

A Divine Image

From Songs of Experience

Cruelty has a Human Heart
And Jealousy a Human Face
Terror, the Human Form Divine
And Secrecy, the Human Dress

The Human Dress is forged Iron
The Human Form a fiery Forge
The Human face, a Furnace Seal’d
The Human Heart, its hungry gorge.

The Human Abstract

From Songs of Experience

Pity would be no more,

If we did not make somebody Poor;

And Mercy no more could be,

If all were as happy as we;

And mutual fear brings peace;

Till the selfish loves increase.

Then Cruelty knits a snare,

And spreads his baits with care.

He sits down with holy fears,

And waters the ground with tears;

Then Humility takes its root

Underneath his foot.

Soon spreads the dismal shade

Of Mystery over his head;

And the Catterpillar and Fly,

Feed on the Mystery.

And it bears the fruit of Deceit.

Ruddy and sweet to eat;

And the Raven his nest has made

In its thickest shade.

The Gods of the earth and sea,

Sought thro’ Nature to find this Tree

But their search was all in vain;

There grows one in the human brain.

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