Earth's Answer (Notebook)

by William Blake

For works with similar titles, see Earth's Answer.

Notebook 17 - Earth Answer

Earth rais'd up her head
From the darkness dread & drear.
Her [eyes fled del.] [orbs dead del.] light fled,
Stony dread!
And her locks cover'd with grey despair.

Prison'd on wat'ry shore
Starry jealousy does keep my den
Cold & hoar;
Weeping o'er,
I hear the [father of the del.] ancient men.

[(Cruel del.) Selfish father of men
Cruel jealous (wintry del.) selfish fear
Can delight,
(Clos'd del.) Chain'd in night,
The virgins of youth & morning bear? del.]

Does spring hide its [delight del.] joy,
When buds and blossoms grow?
Does the sower [sow del.]
[His seed del.] Sow by night,
Or the ploughman in darkness plough?

Break this heavy chain,
That does [close del.] freeze my bones around!
Selfish, vain,
[Thou my del.] Eternal bane,
[Hast my del.] That free love with bondage bound.