A Divine Image

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Scan of "A Divine Image" Blake A Divine Image.jpg
Scan of "A Divine Image"

"A Divine Image" is a poem by William Blake from Songs of Experience , not to be confused with "The Divine Image" from Songs of Innocence. The poem only appeared in copy BB of the combined Songs of Innocence and of Experience. [1]

Ralph Vaughan Williams set the poem to music in his 1958 song cycle Ten Blake Songs , under the title "Cruelty Has a Human Heart".

Full text

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. [2]

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References

  1. "Songs of Innocence and of Experience". William Blake Archive . Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  2. Blake, William (1988). Erdman, David V. (ed.). The Complete Poetry and Prose (Newly revised ed.). Anchor Books. p. 32. ISBN   0385152132.