Summary of the Poem Jerusalem by William Blake

 

Jerusalem

By William Blake

And did those feet in ancient time

Walk upon England’s mountains green:

And was the holy Lamb of God,

On England’s pleasant pastures seen!

 

And did the Countenance Divine,

Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

And was Jerusalem builded here,

Among these dark Satanic Mills?

 

Bring me my Bow of burning gold:

Bring me my arrows of desire:

Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!

Bring me my Chariot of fire!

 

I will not cease from Mental Fight,

Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand:

Till we have built Jerusalem,

In England’s green & pleasant Land.

Summary of the poem Jerusalem

 

"Jerusalem" is a poem by William Blake, published in 1804. Certainly! "Jerusalem" is one of the most famous poems by William Blake, an English poet, painter, and print maker who was active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The poem was published in 1804 as part of a collection called "Milton," which contained a series of poems that were inspired by John Milton's "Paradise Lost."

 

 It is a hymn that praises the city of Jerusalem and calls for its rebuilding in England. The poem is written in the form of a prayer, and the speaker expresses a desire to see Jerusalem, the "holy city," established in England. The speaker believes that the city would bring peace and unity to the country, and they call on the "Mighty Maker" to help bring this vision to fruition. The poem is characterized by its use of vivid imagery and its themes of nationalism, hope, and longing for a better future.

 

In "Jerusalem," the speaker addresses the "Mighty Maker" and expresses a desire to see the city of Jerusalem, which is considered a holy city in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, established in England.

 

The poem is written in the form of a prayer, and it is characterized by its use of vivid imagery and its themes of nationalism, hope, and longing for a better future. The speaker describes Jerusalem as a "heavenly city" that is filled with "gardens bright" and "pearls and gold." They envision a world in which the "new Jerusalem" is built in England, and where "every face" is "filled with light" and "all of England's dark, satanic mills" are "turned to gold."

 

Overall, "Jerusalem" is a powerful and inspiring poem that celebrates the city of Jerusalem and calls for its rebuilding in England. It is a testament to Blake's belief in the transformative power of hope and the desire for a better future.

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