Posted On August 21, 2021
In this third video in the series on Blake's poetry I look at an ambiguity at the heart of Blake's short poem "A poison tree". Is he warning the reader against repressing one's anger by not talking about it, or is he encouraging the reader to express anger through action? Or is it perhaps a bit of both?
I recommend you to watch these videos in order and, in particular, to watch the preceding video ("Never seek to tell your love" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQtMDbUsOwY) before watching this one.
The first video in the series can be found here: https://youtu.be/WXBXodU5qKI
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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.
