The Divine Image

For SSAATTBB Choir, Duration: 4:30
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The Divine Image sets a remarkable poem of the same name by William Blake. The poem is a paean to the virtues of "Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love." Identified initially with God, Blake then works with an interplay of human/divine, locating these same virtues in Man ("the human face divine").

In his attempt to deify the character of man he engages, for me, a Christological perspective. Although this poem may be read by many as strongly humanist in its focus, it is the Christological element that resonates with my reading, and - in the juxtapositions of text fragments I introduce - is the reading made explicit in my setting.

This recording is of a MIDI playback file, so the textual elements I have introduced are not, of course, perceived.

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Text of The Divine Image

To Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love,

All pray in their distress:

And to these virtues of delight

Return their thankfulness.

For Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love,

Is God, our father dear:

And Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love,

Is Man, his child and care.

For Mercy has a human heart,

Pity, a human face:

And Love, the human form divine,

And Peace, the human dress.

Then every man of every clime,

That prays in his distress:

Prays to the human form divine,

Love, Mercy, Pity, Peace.

Where Mercy, Love and Pity dwell,

There God is dwelling too.

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