To Summer Poem by William Blake

To Summer

Rating: 2.7


O thou who passest thro' our valleys in
Thy strength, curb thy fierce steeds, allay the heat
That flames from their large nostrils! thou, O Summer,
Oft pitched'st here thy goldent tent, and oft
Beneath our oaks hast slept, while we beheld
With joy thy ruddy limbs and flourishing hair.

Beneath our thickest shades we oft have heard
Thy voice, when noon upon his fervid car
Rode o'er the deep of heaven; beside our springs
Sit down, and in our mossy valleys, on
Some bank beside a river clear, throw thy
Silk draperies off, and rush into the stream:
Our valleys love the Summer in his pride.

Our bards are fam'd who strike the silver wire:
Our youth are bolder than the southern swains:
Our maidens fairer in the sprightly dance:
We lack not songs, nor instruments of joy,
Nor echoes sweet, nor waters clear as heaven,
Nor laurel wreaths against the sultry heat.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Susan Williams 08 February 2016

I enjoyed this poem far more than many of the poems I have read recently. I wish I could believe it is as straight-forward as it seems but I bet he's having a bit of fun with fauns and leprechauns and nymphs in the background somewhere.

22 0 Reply
Ravi A 14 June 2015

What shall I say of this poem? A very good poem giving encomiums to those who work in the fields in the tolling summer. What more can we expect from a poet like Blake?

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