For Missey's Family

This morning while continuing through our readings of William Blake's poetry, I came across this and could not help but think of Missey Gray's family.

-

On Another's Sorrow
-
Can I see another's woe,
And not be in sorrow too?
Can I see another's grief,

And not seek for kind relief?

-

Can I see a falling tear,

And not feel my sorrow's share?

Can a father see his child

Weep, nor be with sorrow filled?

-

Can a mother sit and hear

An infant groan, and infant fear?

No, no! never can it be!

Never, never can it be!

-

And can He who smiles on all

Hear the wren with sorrows small,

Hear the small bird's grief and care,

Hear the woes that infants bear -

-

And not sit beside the nest,

Pouring pity in their breast,

And not sit the cradle near,

Weeping tear on infant's tear?

-

And not sit both night and day,

Wiping all our tears away?

O no! never can it be!

Never, never can it be!

-

He doth give His joy to all:

He becomes and infant small,

He becomes a man of woe,

He doth feel the sorrow too.

-

Think not thou canst sigh a sigh,

And thy Maker is not by:

Think not thou canst weep a tear,

And thy Maker is not near.

-

O He gives to us His joy,

That our grief He may destroy:

Till our grief is fled and gone

He doth sit by us and moan.