I Heard an Angel
William Blake  

 I heard an Angel singing

 When the day was springing,

 "Mercy, Pity, Peace

 Is the world's release."

 

 Thus he sung all day

 Over the new mown hay,

 Till the sun went down

 And haycocks looked brown.

 

 I heard a Devil curse

 Over the heath and the furze,

 "Mercy could be no more,

 If there was nobody poor,

 

 And pity no more could be,

 If all were as happy as we."

 At his curse the sun went down,

 And the heavens gave a frown.

 

 Down pour'd the heavy rain

 Over the new reap'd grain ...

 And Miseries' increase

 Is Mercy, Pity, Peace.