Songs of Innocence and of Experience.

Before the Psalms there was the Book of Job.

A book that was, as fate would have it,  illustrated by the world renowned William Blake. A poet I met over a decade ago while "studying" Literature in 6th Form.

Descriptions of Behemoths and other mystical creatures led me on a retrospective search of William Blake's material. Which eventually took me back to the Songs of Innocence and Experience.

Below is one of my favourite poems from the Songs of Experience. I actuallykept a printed copy of it in my journal for quite some time back then.
[I wonder what ever became of that journal....hmmm]

A POISON TREE

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 watered it in fears

Night and 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 veiled the pole;

In the morning, glad, I see

My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

A beautiful poem about the different attitudes we have towards those we consider friend and those we consider foe. Take heed.


If this has sparked any nostalgia or interest within, you can read the rest of Blake's poems here: http://triggs.djvu.org/djvu-editions.com/BLAKE/SONGS/Download.pdf

iNi

am less innocent and more experienced these days...

Nadya Dee