Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1826)/Songs of Experience/London



I wander thro' each charter'd street, Near where the charter'd Thames does flow, And mark in every face I meet, Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every Man, In every Infant’s cry of fear, In every voice, in every ban, The mind-forg'd manacles I hear.

How the Chimney-sweeper’s cry Every black'ning Church appalls; And the hapless Soldier’s sigh Runs in blood down Palace walls.

But most, thro' midnight streets I hear How the youthful Harlot’s curse Blasts the new born Infant’s tear, And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse.