The Chimney Sweeper When I was a young boy, my father took me to a place. It was dark and smoldering, And my mother’s eyes were fire.

My young heart trembled then, And I said to the Earth: These are shadows of my care, Shadows of the chains of time.

But there at the river’s flow, There I threw myself away. And the glow of the candle light A tall house across stood alone.

• William Blake