Piping down the valleys wild,
Piping songs of pleasant glee,
On a cloud I saw a child,
And he laughing said to me:
“Pipe a song about a Lamb!”
So I piped with merry chear.
“Piper, pipe that song again;”
So I piped, he wept to hear.
“Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe;
Sing thy songs of happy chear:”
So I sung the same again,
While he wept with joy to hear.
“Piper sit thee down and write
In a book, that all may read.”
So he vanish’d from my site,
And I pluck’d a hollow reed,
And I made a rural pen,
And I stain’d the water clear,
And I wrote my happy songs
Every child may joy to hear.
“William Blake, Songs of Innocence, Introduction.”
Whenever I read this poem, a joy for life overcomes me. It’s an easy association for me to link this poem to the Tarot; something which has continuously given me joy. I think, because the Tarot attempts to represent Nature (and life) through symbols; and life itself can be filled with joy, in the sense of the innocence of life that this poem conveys (before the beginning of every persons initiation into experience; the political game), that the two, both being equal, give me joy.
I can’t help but link this poem to a single card. This may seem strange, seeing as I just linked it to the Tarot in general; however, I don’t care. I don’t mind about the contradiction. It feels right to me; in the most irrational way that most things feel right.
Let’s face it, life is irrational; the Tarot is irrational (trying to predict the future using a random selection of cards is very irrational) and I, almost by default, am irrational. Therefore, with joyful and innocent irrationality I say that this poem, for me, represents both life, the Tarot and the Fool.
I also just have to say, the rational is boring; the irrational is fun.
I hope you enjoyed the poem, it’s one of my favorites. Give a little thought to the happiness that you felt reading it, next time you do a reading.
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6 comments… Let's discuss
A poet myself, I had to read this.
I think this blog entry might say it all — life is lovely, so think of its joy. Life, Tarot, The Fool … poetry … it’s all irrational.
In the best way.
To feel live/lively, we gotta be open to anything. Or at least able to sense what occurs around us. Poetry works toward many of the same goals Tarot does. Both seem to have endless applications and can provide understanding, happiness, community … the effort to communicate is so vital, I feel, to being human.
Thanks for giving a nod to poetry.
Hi Tabitha Dial,
I really like your comment. I couldn’t agree more with what your saying – “Life, Tarot, The Fool…poetry…it’s all irrational”
What a brilliant insight. I really like the way you’ve linked poetry and the Tarot as both being able to provide the same ‘connections, both on an inner level and an outer level’ as each other.
Thanks, Douglas. I have been at the Tarot and poetry comparisons, directly, for a good couple of years now. It’s been quite enriching for me.
Hi Tabitha Dial
Totally! I love poetry, although I’m terrible at actually writing it – I do love to read it.
I’ve just come across your website and looking through it found this and loved it. I am a ‘student’ of tarot and I’m also very much into poetry, this is the first place I’ve found a connection between the two. Also last night was Burn’s Night celebrating a poet!
Very pleased to have found the website will now have to read throught it.
Cheers,
Fiona
Hi Fiona,
Thanks for dropping by
I’m really glad you have enjoyed the post and I appreciate you letting me know