A Poison Tree

Arts & Culture Poetry ( Intikhaab & Sho'ra-e-Gupshup)
1

One of my favourites…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.

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.

2

Re: A Poison Tree

What does last stanza mean? enemy finished or enmity finished?

3

Re: A Poison Tree

Enemy finished/dead...but I think the death of the enemy is a warning in itself.

4

Re: A Poison Tree

Life gets boring without enemy? or its about some guilt for killing someone? or fear of getting same fate?

5

Re: A Poison Tree

When I first read this poem I was happy about the death of the enemy...I thought he got what he deserved. But with time, I learnt that nourishing malice and hatred in ones heart is only poisonous to one's self. It's better to talk it out...and if that's not possible then forgive the foe entirely.