Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TO TIRZAH, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE

Poet Analysis

First Line: WHATE'ER IS BORN OF MORTAL BIRTH
Last Line: THEN WHAT HAVE I TO DO WITH THEE?
Subject(s): BIBLE; LOVE; MYTHOLOGY;

Whate'er is born of mortal birth
Must be consumed with the earth,
To rise from generation free:
Then what have I to do with thee?
The sexes sprang from shame and pride,
Blown in the morn, in evening died;
But mercy changed death into sleep;
The sexes rose to work and weep.

Thou, mother of my mortal part,
With cruelty didst mould my heart,
And with false self-deceiving tears
Didst bind my nostrils, eyes, and ears,

Didst close my tongue in senseless clay,
And me to mortal life betray.
The death of Jesus set me free:
Then what have I to do with thee?



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