Poetry
Poetry
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
William Blake (1757–1827) was an artist as well as a
poet. Born in London, he was apprenticed to an
engraver when he was young. Blake claimed to have
mystical visions, which he expressed in his poems and
engravings. He engraved both the texts and illustrations
for his poems. “A Poison Tree” is from his collection
called Songs of Experience, which reflect his complex
view of a world that includes good and evil, innocence
and experience.
William Blake (1757–1827) was an artist as well as a
poet. Born in London, he was apprenticed to an
engraver when he was young. Blake claimed to have
mystical visions, which he expressed in his poems and
engravings. He engraved both the texts and illustrations
for his poems. “A Poison Tree” is from his collection
called Songs of Experience, which reflect his complex
view of a world that includes good and evil, innocence
and experience.
A Poison Tree
A Poison Tree
by William Blake
by William Blake
5
I was angry with my friend:
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath1 did end.
I told my wrath, my wrath1 did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears,
5
And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
10 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;
15 In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
wrath: Fierce anger; vengeance caused by anger
wiles: tricky or clever behavior
And it grew both day and night,
10 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;
15 In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
wrath: Fierce anger; vengeance caused by anger
wiles: tricky or clever behavior