On Another's Sorrow : summary and analysis

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Poem: "On Another's Sorrow" by William Blake

1.
Can I see another's woe,
And not be in sorrow too?
Can I see another's grief,
And not seek for kind relief?

Summary:
Blake begins by asking a heartfelt question: if we see someone suffering, can we truly remain unaffected? He believes that any compassionate person would naturally feel sorrow upon witnessing someone else’s pain. He suggests that it’s human nature to want to comfort others in their grief.

2.
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?

Summary:
He continues this thought by saying that watching someone cry naturally stirs sorrow in the observer’s heart. No loving father can watch his child cry without feeling emotional pain. Blake emphasizes the deep empathy that binds human beings, especially in close relationships like a parent and child.

3.
Can a mother sit and hear,
An infant groan, an infant fear?
No, no! never can it be!
Never, never can it be!

Summary:
Blake intensifies the emotion by talking about a mother. He insists that no mother can bear to listen to her child in pain or fear without reacting. It's impossible for a loving mother to remain calm when her infant suffers. He repeats "Never, never can it be!" to strongly assert this truth.

4.
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—

Summary:
Now, Blake shifts from human empathy to divine compassion. He asks if God—who is loving and kind to all—can hear even the smallest bird (the wren) when it is sad. If God notices the sorrow of a tiny creature or the suffering of a helpless baby, He must be infinitely compassionate.

5.
And not sit beside the nest,
Pouring pity in their breast;
And not sit the cradle near,
Weeping tear on infant's tear;

Summary:
Blake imagines God being so gentle and loving that He sits near the bird’s nest, filling it with pity and care. Likewise, He sits by a child’s cradle, crying along with the child. Blake paints God as an emotional, empathetic being who shares in the suffering of all creatures.

6.
And not sit both night and day,
Wiping all our tears away?
O no! never can it be!
Never, never can it be!

Summary:
He further explains that God watches over us day and night, constantly comforting us and wiping our tears. Again, Blake repeats “Never, never can it be!” to stress that God would never ignore our pain.

7.
He doth give his joy to all:
He becomes an infant small,
He becomes a man of woe,
He doth feel the sorrow too.

Summary:
Here, Blake blends Christian belief with poetry. He says that God shares His joy with everyone. He even became a small child (referring to Jesus) and a "man of woe" (a sorrowful man). This shows that God truly understands and experiences human suffering.

8.
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.

Summary:
Blake advises the reader not to think that God is absent when we are sad. Every sigh we make, every tear we shed—God is always with us, sharing our sorrow.

9.
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.

Summary:
Blake closes with a comforting image. God gives us His joy to take away our sadness. He stays close to us in our pain, moaning with us, until our grief disappears. God’s love and presence are constant, healing, and deeply compassionate.

ANALYSIS OF THE POEM 

William Blake’s poem “On Another’s Sorrow” is a deeply emotional and spiritual reflection on human empathy and divine compassion. Written in simple language and a gentle tone, the poem explores how both humans and God respond to the suffering of others.

Theme of Empathy

Blake begins with a series of rhetorical questions, asking if a person can truly watch another’s suffering without feeling sorrow. He believes that true human nature is full of kindness, and that we naturally feel pain when we see someone else in pain. This shows how deeply connected people are through shared emotions.

Parental Love

He uses the examples of a father and mother to show how natural it is to feel sorrow for others. A father feels sad when his child cries, and a mother cannot hear her infant groan without being moved. These lines show that love leads to sympathy, especially between parents and children.

Divine Compassion

Blake then shifts from human feelings to God’s divine love. He says that if humans can feel others' sorrow, God must feel it even more, since He is all-loving. Blake presents a God who is gentle, caring, and always near, wiping away our tears and sitting with us in our pain.

Christian Belief

There is a clear Christian message in the poem. Blake refers to God becoming an infant and a man of sorrow—a reference to Jesus Christ. This suggests that God not only understands human suffering but has experienced it Himself.

Tone and Style

The tone of the poem is calm, comforting, and sincere. Blake uses repetition (e.g., "Never, never can it be!") to strongly express belief in God's love and human kindness. The simple language and rhythmic structure make the message clear and powerful.

Message of the Poem

The poem teaches us that no pain goes unnoticed—neither by kind human hearts nor by God. Blake encourages us to be compassionate and caring, and gives hope that God is always with us in our sorrow, helping to heal our hearts.

Conclusion

"On Another’s Sorrow" is a beautiful and thoughtful poem that reminds us of the power of love, sympathy, and divine presence. It encourages us to care for others and assures us that God cares for us, always.

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