Spring (poem)
Spring is a short lyric poem by William Blake, with illustrations. It first appeared in Songs of Innocence (1789) and later in Songs of Innocence and Experience (1794). The poem has three brief stanzas and a lively, singable rhythm. Each stanza ends with a repeated line to show the joy of the season.
In the first stanza, nature welcomes spring: birds sing day and night, a nightingale and a lark are mentioned, and the year is greeted with merriment.
In the second stanza, Blake introduces a cheerful little boy and girl; a cock crows, and their voices join the celebration of the new year.
In the final stanza, a lamb speaks and the speaker says, “Here I am… Let me kiss Your soft face,” showing growing tenderness and closeness between innocence and affection as spring arrives.
The poem links to other characters from Blake’s works—the flutist in the opening, The Little Boy, The Little Girl, and The Lamb—creating a joyful scene of renewal as spring begins a new year.
Scholars often connect Spring with The Echoing Green, another Blake poem about welcoming spring, because of a similar line about greeting the season.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 21:25 (CET).