After William Blake

The Divine Image

by William Blake

To Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love


All pray in their distress;


And to these virtues of delight


Return their thankfulness.



For Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love


Is God, our father dear,


And Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love


Is Man, his child and care.



For Mercy has a human heart,


Pity a human face,


And Love, the human form divine,


And Peace, the human dress.



Then every man, of every clime,


That prays in his distress,


Prays to the human form divine,


Love, Mercy, Pity, Peace.


And all must love the human form,


In heathen, Turk, or Jew;


Where Mercy, Love, and Pity dwell


There God is dwelling too.

How Could I pick?

There’s Mary, Patty, Reese, and Laura,
All pretty in their dresses.
And to their virtues of delight
I give my thankfulness.

For Mary, Patty, Reese and Laura
Are all my goddesses.
For Mary, Patty, Reese and Laura
Make of me a Man, a child, a cad . . .

For Mary has the kindest heart,
Pat, the prettiest face,
And Laura, my Love, has a form divine,
And Reese—the prettiest ass . . .