Little Lamb, God bless thee!
"The Lamb" by William Blake
This poem is like a gentle children's song that asks big questions and then gives simple
answers. It's about a little lamb and its creator, connecting to ideas about God and innocence.
Stanza 1: Asking the Question
"Little Lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee?"
Simple Meaning: The speaker (a child or an innocent voice) looks at a little lamb and
directly asks it, "Little Lamb, who created you? Do you even know who made you?"
Why it's important: This sets up the central question of the poem: where does life
come from? It's a simple, innocent question that a child might ask, showing curiosity
about creation.
"Gave thee life, and bid thee feed By the stream and o’er the mead; Gave thee clothing
of delight, Softest clothing, woolly, bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the
vales rejoice?"
Simple Meaning: The speaker continues to describe all the wonderful things the
Lamb was given by its maker:
o "Gave thee life": Gave you existence.
o "and bid thee feed / By the stream and o’er the mead": Told you to eat grass
by the water and in the open fields.
o "Gave thee clothing of delight, / Softest clothing, woolly, bright": Gave you
your beautiful, soft, bright woolly coat.
o "Gave thee such a tender voice, / Making all the vales rejoice?": Gave you that
gentle bleating sound that makes the whole valley seem happy.
Why it's important: These lines highlight the beautiful, gentle, and perfect qualities
of the lamb and its natural environment. It emphasizes the benevolence (goodness) of
the creator who gave the lamb all these lovely things.
"Little Lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee?"
Simple Meaning: The speaker repeats the same question.
Why it's important: This repetition makes the question stick in your mind and gives
the poem a song-like, innocent feel, like a child truly pondering.
Stanza 2: Giving the Answer
"Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee, Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee: He is called by thy name, For He
calls Himself a Lamb."
Simple Meaning: The speaker now says, "Little Lamb, I will tell you who made
you." The answer is that the Creator (God) is also called by the same name as the
lamb, because God actually refers to Himself as a Lamb (referring to Jesus Christ,
who is often called "the Lamb of God" in Christianity).
Why it's important: This is the core religious message. It reveals that the gentle,
innocent qualities of the lamb are also qualities of God (specifically Jesus). The Lamb
becomes a symbol for divine innocence and sacrifice.
"He is meek, and He is mild, He became a little child. I a child, and thou a lamb, We are
called by His name."
Simple Meaning: The speaker continues to describe God/Jesus:
o "He is meek, and He is mild": He is gentle, humble, and not harsh.
o "He became a little child": Jesus was born as a human baby.
o "I a child, and thou a lamb, / We are called by His name": The speaker (who is
a child) and the lamb are both innocent creatures, and because of their
innocent nature, they are linked to God/Jesus, who is also called "the Lamb."
We share a common innocent nature with God.
Why it's important: This emphasizes the shared qualities of innocence, gentleness,
and humility between the lamb, the child (speaker), and God (Jesus as the Lamb of
God). It connects the natural world to the divine through shared innocent qualities.
"Little Lamb, God bless thee! Little Lamb, God bless thee!"
Simple Meaning: The speaker ends by giving a blessing: "Little Lamb, may God
bless you!"
Why it's important: This simple blessing reinforces the poem's theme of divine love
and protection over innocent creatures. It ends on a note of peace, warmth, and
spiritual affirmation.
Overall Simple Summary of "The Lamb":
This poem is like a sweet, simple conversation. A child asks a little lamb who made it and
gave it all its lovely qualities like soft wool and a gentle voice. The child then answers their
own question, explaining that God made the lamb. The child reveals that God (specifically
Jesus) is also called "the Lamb" because He is gentle and mild, and He even became a human
child. So, the child and the lamb are both innocent, just like God. The poem ends with a
heartfelt blessing for the little lamb, full of peace and love. It's a poem about innocence,
creation, and the gentle, loving nature of God.
