On Another's Sorrow

On Another's Sorrow

by: William Blake

Can I see another's woe

And not be in sorrow too?

Can I see another's grief

And not seek for kind relief?

Can I see a falling tear

And not feel my sorrow's share?

Can a father see his child weep

Nor be with sorrow filled?

Can a mother sit and hear

An infant groan, and infant fear?

No, no! never can it be!

Never, never can it be!

And can He who smiles on all

Hear the wren with sorrows small,

Hear the small bird's grief and care,

Hear the woes that infants bear,

And not sit beside the nest

Pouring pity in their breast;

And not sit the cradle near

Weeping tear on infant's tear;

And not sit both night and day

Wiping all our tears away?

O, no! never can it be!

Never, never can it be!

He doth give His joy to all;

He becomes an infant small;

He becomes a man of woe;

He doth feel the sorrow too.

Think not thou canst sigh a sigh

And thy Maker is not by.

Think not thou canst weep a tear

And thy Maker is not near.

O! He gives to us His joy

That our grief He may destroy;

Till our grief is fled and gone

He doth sit by us and moan.