Holy Thursday (Songs of Innocence) : Themes

Themes

Charity, Poverty, and Sympathy: In “Holy Thursday,” the poet talks about a group of poor children from charity schools. They are walking to church on Holy Thursday for a church service. The children are described as innocent and beautiful, like “lambs” and “flowers.” The poet says these children don’t deserve their suffering. We should feel sympathy for them. The poem teaches that we should always care for those in need, especially poor and hungry children. The poem also suggests that poor children are like angels.

Problems in Society: While “Holy Thursday” seems to show a sweet picture of children going to church, it also points out some problems in society. The poet hints that charity isn’t enough. The poem seems to question why so many children are orphaned, poor, and hungry in the first place. We need to understand why these children are suffering. The poem suggests that society doesn’t truly care for these children; it only pretends to. The poem calls for real action to fix the unfairness in society. It is made clear in “Holy Thursday” of the Songs of Experience (1794).