To Thomas Butts

    My first vision of light，

    On the yellow sands sitting.

    The sun was emitting

    His glorious beams

    From Heaven's high streams.

    Over sea， over land，

    My eyes did expand

    Into regions of air，

    Away from all care；

    Into regions of fire，

    Remote from desire；

    The light of the morning

    Heaven's mountains adorning²：

    In particles bright，

    The jewels of light

    Distinct shone and clear.

    Amaz'd and in fear

    I each particle gazèd，

    Astonish'd， amazèd；

    For each was a Man

    Human-form'd. Swift I ran，

    For they beckon'd to me，

    Remote by the sea，

    Saying： `Each grain of sand，

    Every stone on the land，

    Each rock and each hill，

    Each fountain and rill，

    Each herb and each tree，

    Mountain， hill， earth， and sea，

    Cloud， meteor， and star，

    Are men seen afar.'

    I stood in the streams

    Of Heaven's bright beams，

    And saw Felpham sweet

    Beneath my bright feet，

    In soft Female charms；

    And in her fair arms

    My Shadow I knew，

    And my wife's Shadow too，

    And my sister， and friend.

    We like infants descend³

    In our Shadows on earth，

    Like a weak mortal birth.

    My eyes， more and more，

    Like a sea without shore，

    Continue expanding，

    The Heavens commanding；

    Till the jewels of light，

    Heavenly men beaming bright，

    Appear'd as One Man，

    Who complacent⁴ began

    My limbs to enfold

    In His beams of bright gold；

    Like dross⁵ purg'd away

    All my mire⁶ and my clay.

    Soft consum'd in delight，

    In His bosom⁷ sun-bright

    I remain'd. Soft He smil'd，

    And I heard His voice mild，

    Saying： `This is My fold，

    O thou ram⁸ horn'd with gold，

    Who awakest from sleep

    On the sides of the deep.

    On the mountains around

    The roarings resound⁹

    Of the lion and wolf，

    The loud sea， and deep gulf¹⁰.

    These are guards of My fold，

    O thou ram horn'd with gold！

    And the voice faded mild：

    I remain'd as a child；

    All I ever had known

    Before me bright shone：

    I saw you and your wife

    By the fountains of life.

    Such the vision to me

    Appear'd on the sea.