Bring Me My Arrows of Desire!

My Northfield Mount Hermon alumnae magazine arrived yesterday, containing the above picture - a tip to our school song on an alum's college graduation cap.

 

Now, I don't wander around singing Jerusalem all the time.  But, of course, I found a version of that glorious song on youtube last night and listened to it a couple of times.

And I concluded that, given all that life demands of us, it's a good thing if your mind and heart have been saturated with William Blake's word and this music during your adolescence.

The music can be found here.

The words (look it up on Wikipedia if you need the background; I would say that the metaphor extends to all of life ):

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On England's pleasant pastures seen!

And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England's green pleasant Land,

~ William Blake