Wednesday 18 March 2009

A Poison Tree- William Blake



I cannot pretend that I have delved all the meaning in this poem - well, I doubt that I ever will delve all the meaning in any of Blake's work - even the most apparently simple. It seems, however, highly appropriate to my last posting. Read and enjoy.

I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears
Night and morning with my tears,
And I sunned it with smiles
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright,
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine -

And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning, glad, I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

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