Laughing Song

Photo by Ibrahim DALGIÇ

I have the good fortune of taking a walk most mornings along the Naperville Riverwalk, where I enjoy the beauty of the river, the trees, the flowers, the open fields, and the little patch of woods at the Riverwalk’s west end. Every once in a while, I’m also greeted by a fox, a deer, a skunk, a turtle, a snake, a heron, a crane, or another furry, scaly, or feathery friend.

This time of year, no matter how heavy my heart may be or how many worries occupy my mind, I often find myself overwhelmed with delight by the sights and sounds of summer. The tree leaves dance in the breeze, birds call to one another from the branches, wildflowers stretch toward the sunlight, and life seems to burst forth in every direction. At moments like these, it feels as though the whole world is rejoicing—laughing with the simple joy of being alive.

That spirit of exuberance and delight animates William Blake’s “Laughing Song,” inviting us to join nature in its celebration of life.

Happy Summer Solstice Everyone!

Laughing Song

by William Blake (1757-1827)

When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy,
And the dimpling stream runs laughing by;
When the air does laugh with our merry wit,
And the green hill laughs with the noise of it;

When the meadows laugh with lively green,
And the grasshopper laughs in the merry scene,
When Mary and Susan and Emily
With their sweet round mouths sing “Ha, ha he!”

When the painted birds laugh in the shade,
Where our table with cherries and nuts is spread:
Come live, and be merry, and join with me,
To sing the sweet chorus of “Ha, ha, he!”

Originally published in 1789 in Blake’s collection, Songs of Innocence.