"An Island in the Moon"
"The Little Boy Lost" first appeared in "An Island
in the Moon." The poem was preceded by "The Nurse's Song;" and since
she has given the children permission to "go and play till the light fades
away;" perhaps the little boy is only lost and not abandoned, another
common reading of the poem. However, psychological criticism suggests
that "The Little Boy Lost" is about Blake's struggle to accept the death
of his father; who died in July of 1784 only months prior to "An
Island in the Moon's" composition. The poem is spoken by Quid, arguably
the voice of Blake. After Quid finishes singing the poem, "nobody could
sing any longer," which further suggests that it is a song of mourning.
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