Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1826)/Songs of Experience/The Chimney Sweeper

A little black thing among the snow: Crying weep, weep, in notes of woe! Where are thy father & mother? say? They are both gone up to the church to pray.

Because I was happy upon the heath, And smil'd among the winters snow: They clothed me in the clothes of death, And taught me to sing the notes of woe.

And because I am happy & dance & sing, They think they have done me no injury: And are gone to praise God & his Priest & King, Who make up a heaven of our misery.