And Did Those Feet In Ancient Time Comments

You either like a poem or you don't and I like this!

A beautiful creation..........

Powerful and profound poem so beautifully crafted and expressed.

O clouds, unfold! Bring me my chariot of fire! ....a prayer…a clarion call followed by the great resolution, "I will not cease from mental fight. This poem is the reflection of a powerful whine of a great soul though retrospective…critically appreciated.

The poet puts great question in the first stanza! He reiterates his deep concern about ‘Jerusalem' which is tainted by evil powers and forces…the figure of speech, ‘satanic mills' creates an impression. (Part 1)

i like cheese someone give me cheese

.............amazingly, I see I've read this poem exactly two years ago....nice to enjoy a second time ★

If you look at the original, the first Stanzer resolves itself as: 'And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England's mountains green: And was the holy Lamb of God, On England's pleasant pastures seen! ' Though my only source is Wikipedia, the above still seems better.

And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England's mountains green? And was the holy Lamb of God On England's pleasant pastures seen?

Re: Frederick Hudson's utterly ill-informed and reactionary comment, So far as is known, Blake wrote this c.1804-1808...er...unless they've changed the calendar recently that would be the 19th century then...I guess you owe Gillian an apology

I love the style of that poem was written in, that is, the questions asked in it and it's positive spirit stated in such lines as, I will not from mental fight. Every poem should be written in a similar style.

It's an account of impatient romantic reformative approach. Mr. Blake is frustrated while witnessing evils produced by so-called industrial revolution. It's, according to Blake, only another way to exploit poor strata of England soil under the cover of churches. Blake as a reformist pining for an ideal world and for this purpose he is ready to fight against the contemporary wiles and vices.

My interpretation is that we had Jerusalem and it was lost and now he's going to bring it back with force which is not possible so the poem kind of twists on itself leaving me with a feeling of hopelessness and sadness. I find many of Blakes poems very dark just like this one. But they do makes you think! ! !

I'd agree with Gillian for the most part, but would say that everything in the poem has a metaphorical sense, as well as possibly a litteral one. Blake used physical location to represent spiritual quality or aspect in a large amount of his work. Therefore the English hills are the English people, or people, and the mills represent not only mills, but the mental form of control, system, and renunciation of humanity. The lamb represents Christ, or the active principle necessary to constructing Jerusalem, of the Holy City. The poem ends with Blake's decleration of war, and his will to bring back the Christ, so that the Holy city can be rebuilt in England: Very cool.

well Gillian its obvious you have no idea what your talking about considering William Blake did not write this in the 19th century so dont try and act so smart. David I agree with you it is about how everyone dances to the same tune and that Jesus's presence should be everywhere no matter how far away it was from where he lived.

This poem was written about the Industrial Revolution that took place duing the early 19th century. The first verse asks did Christ visit Britain. This may be metaphorical or literal. There is an old English legend that Christ came to Britain as a boy. The poet questions christianity in Britain (2nd verse) and illustrates the point by using the adjective 'satanic' when describing the industrial mills. (In the North of Britain at this time many people; men, women and children, worked in the cotton industry.) This clearly gives the impression that the poet thinks the mills are evil places. In the final two verses he poet summons up his faith and reveals he will not rest until there is justice in society. This is a beautifully written poem and is sometimes used as a national anthem.

every one, any where, dances to the same song.