<P> There are also religious connotations in this poem . The image of The Shepherd as Christ is initially found in another Song, The Little Black Boy . Psalm 23 depicts God as a shepherd of mankind, and the capitalization of the word' Shepherd' in the first and last lines furthers the idea that the Shepherd is a symbol of God . In the bible, a shepherd's presence is representative of guidance . In this poem, the Shepherd can be viewed as the spiritual guide or a savior of the herd, rejoicing in their numbers . Jesus is also referred to in the bible as the Lamb of God . Since the poem depicts The Shepherd as following his herd, the reader may view both the sheep and The Shepherd as protectors of each other . The Shepherd watches over his herd with delight as God watches over his people . Reversed, Jesus - represented as a lamb - does not lead mankind - The Shepherd - astray . </P> <P> The Shepherd in the illustration is standing underneath a vine - wrapped tree surrounded by his herd of sheep . In many of the Songs of Innocence, Blake uses vegetation to show the security of innocence that is secure and unthreatened . This dove underneath the poem mimics the dove found on the introduction plate . Typically a symbol of peace, the dove enables the reader to absorb the peaceful setting that is typical of a pastoral poem . Depending on the version, the sun appears to either be rising or setting . The rising sun gives the impression of new beginnings that is consistent with innocence while the setting sun encourages the reader to view the poem as the end of a journey through innocence and onto experience . </P>

Summary of the poem the shepherd by william blake