Laughing Song by William Blake โ€“ Summary and Critical Appreciation

Laughing Song by William Blake


Laughing Song is a poem by the British poet William Blake that encapsulates the joy and elation of nature. The poem paints a vivid picture of nature in full bloom, with the woods, stream, air, meadows and grasshopper all laughing with jubilation. In addition to the elements of nature, two young girls named Mary and Susan join in on the chorus of laughter and merriment. The Laughing Song is not only about joy and laughter but also about being merry and celebrating life.

The green woods express their joy with a voice of jubilation as the dimpling stream runs alongside them laughing. The air itself joins in on their wit as the green hill can be heard echoing with its noise. The meadows are filled with lively green vitality as the grasshopperโ€™s song fills up the scene with merriment and delight. Mary and Susan add to this chorus by singing โ€œHa, ha he!โ€ while nearby painted birds laugh in the shade under which a table spread with cherries and nuts beckons them to come together and join in on its sweet chorus of โ€œHa, ha he!โ€

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The Laughing Song celebrates lifeโ€™s simple pleasures such as friendship, joyousness and an appreciation for natureโ€™s beauty around us all. It serves as a reminder for us to take pleasure in our lives no matter how small or seemingly insignificant they may seem at times; to live our lives happily and enjoy every moment we have been given. The poem consists of three stanzas, each with four lines. The poem is about joy, gaiety and natureโ€™s jubilance, with each element of nature represented in the poem โ€“ the woods, stream, air, meadows, grasshopper and birds โ€“ laughing joyously.

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Critical Appreciation of Laughing Song

The Laughing Song, a poem written by William Blake, is an ode to the joy and beauty of life. Through the use of vivid imagery and simple yet evocative language, the poet expresses his admiration for natureโ€™s beauty and his longing for a simpler time. The poem is composed of seven quatrains that each describe different aspects of nature and its associated joys.

The poem begins with an invitation to join in โ€œthe voice of joyโ€ emanating from the woods: โ€œWhen the green woods laugh with the voice of joyโ€. This joyful energy carries into the next line where we are told that โ€œthe dimpling stream runs laughing byโ€. Here, Blake uses alliteration to convey a sense of playful energy as well as comfort โ€“ streams are often associated with peace and tranquillity. The image established in these lines is one of peace and contentment; nature is living in harmony with itself, celebrating its beauty and vitality through laughter.

In this same vein, Blake goes on to describe how โ€œthe air does laugh with our merry witโ€ while โ€œthe green hill laughs with the noise of itโ€. Here he suggests that humans have an integral role in creating this joyful atmosphere through their own laughter โ€“ be it verbal or mental โ€“ which then reverberates throughout nature, uniting everyone in celebration. The tone then shifts slightly as we learn that even those things often overlooked by humans can enjoy this joyous experience: โ€œwhen the meadows laugh with lively green/And the grasshopper laughs in the merry sceneโ€. This serves as a reminder that there is life everywhere; even those creatures we donโ€™t always see or think about are capable of enjoying lifeโ€™s pleasures along with us.

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The poem culminates in an invitation to come together around a table laden with cherries and nuts: โ€œWhere our table with cherries and nuts is spreadโ€. By inviting us to share food together, Blake seems to suggest that there is something inherently special about sharing a meal together: not only does it represent unity but also creates a space for deeper connections between people due to its intimate nature. We are then encouraged to live life cheerfully and join him in singing โ€œthe sweet chorus of โ€˜Ha ha he!โ€™โ€ This cheerful refrain emphasizes once again that life should be celebrated wholeheartedly rather than taken for granted or overlooked because it can pass so quickly if we do not recognize its beauty while it lasts.

In Laughing Song, William Blake captures both moments of simple pleasure such as eating cherries under a tree as well as more profound messages such as appreciating life more fully before it passes us by too quickly . Through vivid imagery and simple language he invites us to take part in natureโ€™s celebration, sharing stories around tables laden with food and singing together in harmony until our throats are raw from laughter. In this brief poem, Blake reminds us just how important it is to live each day fully aware that it could be our last chance at true happiness โ€“ what better way than laughing out loud?

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