I saw a chapel all of gold

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I saw a chapel all of gold by William Blake

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From Blake’s Notebook (c.1793)

I saw a chapel all of gold
That none did dare to enter in;
And many weeping stood without,
Weeping, mourning, worshipping.

I saw a serpent rise between
The white pillars of the door,
And he forc’d & forc’d & forc’d –
Down the golden hinges tore,

And along the pavement sweet,
Set with pearls & rubies bright,
All his slimy length he drew,
Till upon the altar white

Vomiting his poison out
On the bread & on the wine.
So I turn’d into a sty
And laid me down among the swine.

This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.