The School Boy

Text by William Blake (used in my song, but not in original poem) [used in original poem, but not in my song] 5. EXPERIENCE: THE SCHOOL BOY I love to rise in a summer morn When the birds sing on every tree The distant huntsman winds his horn And the sky-lark sings with me O! What sweet company But to go to school in a summer morn O! It drives all joy away Under a cruel eye outworn The little ones spend the day In sighing and (in) dismay Ah, then at times I drooping sit And spend many an anxious hour Nor in my book can I take delight Nor sit in learning's bower Worn thro' with the dreary shower How can the bird that is born for joy Sit in a cage and sing How can a child when fears annoy But droop his tender wing And forget his youthful spring O father, (O) [and] mother, if buds are nip'd And blossoms blown away And if the tender plants are strip'd Of [their] joy in the springing day (And if their life is grip'd) By sorrow and care's dismay How shall the summer arise in joy Or the summer fruits appear Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy Or bless the mellowing year When the blasts of winter appear