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Poison Tree - School days
2007/08/29,11:25

In my childhood days, I had memorized poems for examinations. The poem Poison Tree, that I believe I read in my eighth grade is still vivid in my mind.

William Blake

Not all the words, but the concept is what is vivid. Now when I read it again, I can appreciate the simplicity with which William Blake communicated on what it takes to keep the wrath hidden and what it takes when expressed.

Incidentally, the theme of my first poem is about a mind without hatred which (hatred) I consider similar to wrath.

The poem by William Blake is as below; Thanks to him and to quotations.about.com for the online version. I will soon edit and publish my poem as well.

 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 my 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 outstretch'd beneath the tree

Thanks to  Thomas Phillips for the portrait of William Blake and to Wikipedia for the electronic image of the same.

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