The William Blake Blog

Blake Sound Bites: To Spring
This audio-only podcast explores how Blake's first published poem, "To Spring", drew upon the work of James Thomson's The Seasons.

This audio podcast explores the first poem to have been published by William Blake - “To Spring”, which appeared in his Poetical Sketches of 1783, looking in particular how James Thomson’s The Season’s influenced Blake.

“To Spring”

O thou, with dewy locks, who lookest down 

Thro' the clear windows of the morning; turn 

Thine angel eyes upon our western isle, 

Which in full choir hails thy approach, 


O Spring! The hills tell each other, and the list'ning 

 Vallies hear; all our longing eyes are turned 

Up to thy bright pavillions: issue forth, 

And let thy holy feet visit our clime. 


 Come o'er the eastern hills, and let our winds 

Kiss thy perfumed garments; let us taste 

Thy morn and evening breath; scatter thy pearls 

Upon our love-sick land that mourns for thee. 


 O deck her forth with thy fair fingers; pour 

Thy soft kisses on her bosom; and put 

Thy golden crown upon her languish'd head, 

 Whose modest tresses were bound up for thee!

Text from David Erdman: The Complete Poetry & Prose of William Blake, erdman.blakearchive.org.