Holy Thursday

Songs of Innocence and of Experience, 1789

Twas on a Holy Thursday their innocent faces cleanThe children walking two & two in red & blue & greenGrey-headed beadles walkd before with wands as white as snowTill into the high dome of Pauls they like Thames waters flow

O what a multitude they seemd these flowers of London townSeated in companies they sit with radiance all their ownThe hum of multitudes was there but multitudes of lambsThousands of little boys & girls raising their innocent hands

Now like a mighty wind they raise to Heaven the voice of songOr like harmonious thunderings the seats of heaven amongBeneath them sit the aged men wise guardians of the poorThen cherish pity lest you drive an angel from your door

From Songs of Innocence and of Experience, via the English Wikisource transcription (1826 edition).

Public domainThis poem is in the public domain. You may read it, copy it, recite it and publish it without asking anyone.