THE ECHOING GREEN,
By William Blake, Poetry
The innocent and unchecked pleasures of childhood
constitute the central idea of the poem “The Echoing Green”, William Blake
communicates these joys in a simple and natural style. He expresses his faith
in the process of life and change by pointing out the sway of time on human
life.
A feeling of joy and playfulness permeates the
atmosphere when bells ring and birds sing in the air. The sun rises in the sky
and the cycle of life begins its race. Children come out of their homes, begin
their sports on the echoing green and participate in the main flow of life.
Nostalgic memories haunt old people including
John, who watches the sports of children in a reminiscent mood. They share the
pleasures of children and try to laugh away the worries of life until the cycle
of the day comes full circle and night falls. Birds and children go to their
shelters and the echoing green is changed into a darkening green. The brief
candle of the day goes out and everything is lulled to sleep.
The poem creates a hypnotic effect and we are
completely absorbed in the heaven of childhood quite away from the routine of
daily life.
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