The Little Boy Lost

This poem is part of a larger work titled Songs of Innocence which was published in the year 1789.

[1] Upon the publication of "The Little Boy Lost" and Songs of Innocence, people of Blake's time perceived the compilation of poems as a children's book because it was easy to read, the poems were very short, meant to be sung, and were accompanied by colourful illustrations.

Some interpret the poem as representing the relationship between humans and our spiritual lives with the Biblical God.

A person can become lost in a spiritual journey by acting on impulse; following drugs, a lavish lifestyle, or anything else that goes against Biblical principles.

Scholars agree that "The Little Boy Lost" is the 13th object in the order of the original printings of the Songs of Innocence and of Experience.