London (William Blake poem)

"London" is a poem by William Blake, published in the Songs of Experience in 1794. It is one of the few poems in Songs of Experience that reflects a constrained or bleak view of the city. Written during the time of significant political and social upheaval in England, the poem expresses themes of oppression, poverty, and institutional corruption. Scholars have suggested that Blake used this work to critique the impacts of industrialization and to highlight the experiences of London's impoverished residents.

The poem critically examines the social conditions of the time, particularly the exploitation of the poor, while also addressing the loss of individual freedom and the moral decay of society. Blake's writing is thought to reflect his response to the industrial revolution and political unrest in England, as he sought to highlight the suffering of the city's inhabitants.