The Poison Tree by William Blake 1794: GCSE
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. And I water'd 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 veil'd the pole; In the morning glad I see; My foe outstretched beneath the tree. Context: Blake was an eighteenth century printmaker and painter as well as a poet. He combined his artistic talents to produce books that included poetry and pictures. Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience deal with the same subject matter but have a very different tone, Songs of Experience being much darker. The Poison Tree appear...