It’s rare for me to post poetry two days in a row, much less poetry that I didn’t write, but I was watching an interview with Makato Fujimura on art, Christianity, and the illuminated edition of the four gospels he recently created with Crossway, he mentioned this poem and how it (among numerous other things) brought him to Christ. I read it and it brought tears to my eyes, which I suppose says more about my love of the poetic word than it does the poem itself. Either way, it’s a beautiful work and a reminder to us, as Fujimura said, that the Gospel we preach today is and aught to be the same that was preached in England nearly 300 years ago when Blake was alive and in Jerusalem over 2000 years ago when Christ walked on earth. Enjoy!
JERUSALEM (from ‘Milton’)
by: William Blake (1757-1827)
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England’s mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England’s pleasant pastures seen?And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic Mills?Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land.
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