Little Vagabond, The Analysis

Author: Poetry of William Blake Type: Poetry Views: 1400

Dear mother, dear mother, the church is cold,

But the ale-house is healthy and pleasant and warm;

Besides I can tell where I am used well,

Such usage in Heaven will never do well.

But if at the church they would give us some ale,

And a pleasant fire our souls to regale,

We'd sing and we'd pray all the live-long day,

Nor ever once wish from the church to stray.

Then the parson might preach, and drink, and sing,

And we'd be as happy as birds in the spring;

And modest Dame Lurch, who is always at church,

Would not have bandy children, nor fasting, nor birch.

And God, like a father rejoicing to see

His children as pleasant and happy as he,

Would have no more quarrel with the Devil or the barrel,

But kiss him, and give him both drink and apparel.

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||| Analysis | Critique | Overview Below |||

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This poem is light hearted but has a deeper meaning. The point the child is trying to make is that worship should be a pleasure not a trial. In developing his argument he also emphasises the hypocrisy of the church, with "dame Lurch" and her "birch", whipping is not a normal connatation with christian values and this lady seems to only do "good" things to present an appearance to the community. This is truly loosing touch with faith, even though at first glance it seems the child has done so, but they have not just with an institution.

| Posted on 2006-06-20 | by Approved Guest

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lol very cute, and very fun. i love the back beat ^-^ it's most catchy.
i love how he uses cold vs warm to depict the harsh judgement of the church vs the inviting openess of the ale-house. it makes me feel warm all over and smile at the thought of all those happy drunks singing and swaying and praying.
i also like the way, in the last stanza, he suggests that if the church were more open and less harsh to judge that it might not only please God, but also that love and openness might rid the world of the struggle between good and evil. embracing the devil perhaps, but ceasing the battle just the same. ^-^

| Posted on 2005-10-07 | by TT

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