A Poison Tree

by William Blake

"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."

A Poison Tree is a short poem by William Blake that was originally published in 1794 within Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1794). Blake previously wrote Songs of Innocence in 1789 as a contrary to the Songs of Experience, and later published them both together in juxtaposition. This poem is one of only so many that appears in Experience, but does not have an opposing poem in Innocence.

William Blake (1757-1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognized during his lifetime, Blake's work is today considered seminal and significant in the history of both poetry and the visual arts.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Literature, 18th Century, British Literature, School, Romanticism

1 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 5, 2012

About the author

William Blake (November 28, 1757 - August 12, 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake's work is today considered seminal and significant in the history of both poetry and the visual arts.

Blake's prophetic poetry has been said to form "what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the language". His visual artistry has led one modern critic to proclaim him "far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced." Although he only once travelled any further than a day's walk outside London over the course of his life, his creative vision engendered a diverse and symbolically rich corpus, which embraced 'imagination' as "the body of God", or "Human existence itself".

Once considered mad for his idiosyncratic views, Blake is highly regarded today for his expressiveness and creativity, and the philosophical and mystical currents that underlie his work. His work has been characterized as part of the Romantic movement, or even "Pre-Romantic", for its largely having appeared in the 18th century. Reverent of the Bible but hostile to the established Church, Blake was influenced by the ideals and ambitions of the French and American revolutions, as well as by such thinkers as Emanuel Swedenborg.

Despite these known influences, the originality and singularity of Blake's work make it difficult to classify. One 19th century scholar characterised Blake as a "glorious luminary", "a man not forestalled by predecessors, nor to be classed with contemporaries, nor to be replaced by known or readily surmisable successors."

Reviews

[Edlira Dibrani · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time I heard this was from the TV show The Originals where Klaus Mikaelson read it and I immediately searched it. I absolutely love it.

[Aurora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite poem. ❤️

Thank you Lily for telling me about this poem. I have read this poem so many times and I know all the words by heart *smiles*
I want to read more poems like this one.
Also, Joseph Morgan's voice fits perfectly this poem and it makes me want to listen to him reading it every day.

[ZaRi]

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 waterd it in fears,
Night & 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 veild the pole;
In the morning glad I see;
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

[Rao Javed · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are not many poem that touch the heart , this one of those poems that even a anti-poem person will like.

[Swasti Lavania · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard this first in Joseph Morgan's voice on the TV show 'The Originals', and I loved this poem there and then.

[Ljubica Babic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great,emotional poem.

William Blake tells something more about anger and he compares it to tree and apples on the tree.
He talks about something everyone deal with:anger towards friend and anger towards enemy or foe.

When he gets angry with his friend,he just talked it out.But when it comes to enemy,he holds his anger and it grows,as apples on the tree.

[Lubat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful.
Revenge is a good thing but forgiveness is a greater thing.

[ABouyaala AB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hate and wrath are really a burden I'm not willing to carry around.

[Leilani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this poem is only four stanzas, but I also watched quite a few YouTube videos on the analysis of the poem and read another analysis online, which greatly added to my appreciation of the poem and of poetry in general.
I really like this poem a lot.

[Deborah Obida · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great poem,just a page long.

The poem is about anger, the writer is angry with his foe, and the anger grew like apples on a tree.

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty poignant poem about the dangers of storing up your rather toward people and how it poisons your whole soul.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Poison Tree **** – Wow, a stunning vivid image of “the root of bitterness” (as described in Scripture, Hebrews 12:15), which echoes with the tale of the serpent in the garden and the forbidden fruit.

There is a simplicity in the rhythm of some of Blake’s poems which actually adds to the striking impact (similar to Emily Bronte & Emily Dickinson half-a-century later)

“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.”

[Tasneem Azab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poem shows us how far can the human being go, and how evil can we be. It is a poem for kids, yet it has the most powerful, and harsh emotions that human beings can have. This makes me think, is this poem really for kids? Do they really need to know the importance of communication or should we "the adults" learn more about it first?!
"And I watered it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears:
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles."

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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 veild the pole;

In the morning glad I see;
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.»

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poem rings very true about holding grudges against people.

[Ritesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

the more I read.. I fall deeper

[Whitney Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful

This was very insightful. As far as the way the human spirit works. Venegence is a very dangerous thing. Forgiveness is also very powerful.

[Asyirah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a paired reading with Tolstoy’s “God Sees The Truth, But He Waits” on LitReading.

[Emilia Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of m fav poems

[Iskra Profil nije aktivan u ovo vreme. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odlična

[Ru & her books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 ✨

[sanika · Rating 4 out of 5]

simple and succinct. baby's first metaphor

[trains · Rating 5 out of 5]

that was kinda awesomesauce

[Grace McClurg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arguably one of my favourites in Blake's poetry

[Persephone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listening to "Poison tree" by grouper while reading it >>>>

The meaning tho... A short , yet meaningful poem.

[Deer ✧.* · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️

I like this poem

[Lizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

crushed it up and boiled my tea ୨ৎ ݁ ˖

[Lör K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this poem a few times before this year, and just read it again to get a chance to sit and review it properly. I love this poem. No matter how many times I read it, something new seems to strike my mind and remind me of something that has happened in my life, a situation where I could have used the knowledge that this poem gives me in my past. A Poison Tree has definitely giving me many ideas on how I should live my life to be a better person. This poem is short, very short indeed, but it reigns true in my mind every single time I read it.

Do not be a bitter person. Be a good person.

[Sneh Pradhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sly ....

[Francia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite poem of all times.