The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Other Poems of the Romantic Era | The Lamb

The Lamb

From Songs of Innocence

Little lamb, who made thee?
Does thou know who made thee,
Gave thee life, & bid thee feed
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little lamb, who made thee?
Does thou know who made thee?
Little lamb, I'll tell thee;
Little lamb, I'll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For He calls Himself a Lamb.
He is meek, & He is mild,
He became a little child.
I a child, & thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
Little lamb, God bless thee!
Little lamb, God bless thee!
  • Songs of Innocence – one of a pair of companion books Blake wrote looking at issues from two opposing viewpoints
  • a meadow
  • a reference to Jesus, who is often called “the lamb of God”
  • “The lamb of God” became a child in the form of baby Jesus.
  • In nursery-rhyme fashion, the speaker identifies with the lamb and with the gentle figure of baby Jesus, the “lamb of God.”