The Ecchoing Green by William Blake

View this email on a browser Forward to a friend May 28, 2016   The Ecchoing Green   William Blake

The sun does arise, And make happy the skies. The merry bells ring To welcome the Spring. The sky-lark and thrush, The birds of the bush, Sing louder around, To the bells’ cheerful sound. While our sports shall be seen On the Ecchoing Green.   Old John, with white hair Does laugh away care, Sitting under the oak, Among the old folk, They laugh at our play, And soon they all say. ‘Such, such were the joys. When we all girls & boys, In our youth-time were seen, On the Ecchoing Green.’   Till the little ones weary No more can be merry The sun does descend, And our sports have an end: Round the laps of their mothers, Many sisters and brothers, Like birds in their nest, Are ready for rest; And sport no more seen, On the darkening Green.            This poem is in the public domain. About This Poem   “The Ecchoing Green” was published in Songs of Innocence in 1789.   William Blake was born on November 28, 1757, in London. He published multiple books of poetry, including Songs of Innocence in 1789 and Songs of Experience in 1794. He died in 1827. Poetry by Blake   Blake (Everyman’s Library, 1994) "Block City" by Robert Louis Stevenson "When I Consider How My Light Is Spent" by John Milton "The Subalterns" by Thomas Hardy Poem-a-Day   Launched during National Poetry Month in 2006, Poem-a-Day features new and previously unpublished poems by contemporary poets on weekdays and classic poems on weekends. Thanks for being a part of the Academy of American Poets community. To learn about other programs, including National Poetry Month, Poem in Your Pocket Day, the annual Poets Forum, and more, visit Poets.org.   You are receiving this e-mail because you elected to subscribe to our mailing list. If you would like to unsubscribe, please click here.   © Academy of American Poets 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038