Welcome to Poem of the Day – A Poison Tree by William Blake.
William Blake, one of the most influential British poets, is known for his innovative and often visionary approach to poetry. His works, often brimming with symbolic meanings and deep philosophical reflections, explore the complex dynamics of human nature, spirituality, and social structures. A Poison Tree, written as part of Blake’s Songs of Experience (1794), is one of his most striking poems. It explores themes of anger, deceit, and the destructive power of suppressed emotions, particularly the way in which unexpressed resentment can fester and grow, ultimately leading to harm.
The poem is a concise and powerful exploration of how negative emotions, when left unchecked, can transform into something far more dangerous. Blake’s use of nature imagery, simple yet profound language, and his exploration of moral psychology make A Poison Tree a timeless meditation on the destructive potential of internalized rage. In this essay, we will examine the poem’s themes, structure, and symbolism to understand how Blake, as a British poet, uses his craft to delve into the darker aspects of human behavior.
A Poison Tree Poem
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.
A Poison Tree Poem Explanation
At the heart of A Poison Tree is the theme of suppressed anger and its consequences. The poem presents a speaker who experiences anger toward a friend, yet chooses not to express it openly. Instead, the speaker harbors this resentment, and as a result, it grows into a “poison tree,” bearing a deadly fruit. This metaphor is central to the poem’s moral message: the idea that repressed emotions, particularly anger, can lead to destructive outcomes when not confronted or dealt with in a healthy way.
The poem’s opening lines introduce the speaker’s anger in a situation where it is openly expressed toward an adversary:
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.
The speaker contrasts two reactions to anger: one where the emotion is expressed, leading to resolution, and one where it is bottled up, leading to its escalation. Blake suggests that when anger is expressed openly, it is resolved, and the relationship is restored. However, when anger is repressed, it festers and becomes something far more dangerous. This dynamic is central to the poem’s moral reflection on human nature.
The “poison tree” metaphor, which serves as the focal image of the poem, suggests that unchecked anger grows like a plant, becoming more toxic and potentially deadly. The “fruit” that grows from the tree is not just metaphorical but an actual threat: when the enemy comes near the tree, they are tempted by the fruit, and it leads to their destruction.
The poem also explores the theme of deception and the hidden nature of negative emotions. The speaker does not confront the enemy or make their anger known, allowing the resentment to grow in secrecy. This idea of hidden malice is not only a moral lesson but a commentary on human behavior. It critiques the tendency to conceal emotions, particularly in social contexts where expressing anger may be seen as inappropriate or dangerous. The poem’s suggestion is that this secrecy, while seemingly harmless, can lead to unintended harm, both for others and for oneself.
Structure and Form
The Poison Tree is a short, lyric poem composed of four quatrains with an AABB rhyme scheme. The simplicity of the structure mirrors the simplicity of the poem’s message. Each stanza is composed of two rhyming couplets, which gives the poem a sense of balance and order. However, this order contrasts with the chaotic nature of the emotions being described, creating an interesting tension between form and content.
The straightforward rhyme and meter allow Blake’s message to come through clearly and forcefully. The regularity of the structure also reflects the gradual, almost inevitable growth of the anger into something destructive. The poem’s pacing is steady, with the first three stanzas describing the development of the anger and the growth of the tree, while the final stanza reveals the fatal consequences of this unchecked emotion. The poem’s progression from internalized anger to external destruction is mirrored in the natural imagery and the structure, which builds a sense of inevitability.
The rhyme scheme, though simple, adds to the poem’s sense of rhythm and emphasizes the importance of the moral lesson being imparted. The regularity of the rhyming couplets gives the poem a singsong quality, making it easy to read and memorable, which may have been Blake’s intention, considering that much of his work was written to be accessible to a wide audience. The simplicity of the structure also makes the poem’s darker message all the more striking—Blake is able to deliver a profound moral with minimal complexity, showcasing his skill as a poet.
Imagery and Symbolism
Blake’s use of imagery in A Poison Tree is both vivid and symbolic, drawing on nature to represent internal emotional states. The central metaphor of the “poison tree” itself is a powerful symbol, representing how emotions—especially anger—can be nurtured and allowed to grow until they become toxic and dangerous. The tree is not just a natural object but a symbol of a psychological process, where suppressed anger transforms into something malevolent. The growth of the tree represents the buildup of negative emotions over time, and the fruit it bears symbolizes the destructive potential of these emotions when they are not expressed.
The “fruit” of the tree is described as tempting and ultimately lethal:
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.
The fruit, often interpreted as a symbol of temptation, is a direct reference to the biblical story of Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis. In the Bible, the apple represents the forbidden fruit of knowledge, which leads to humanity’s fall from innocence. In Blake’s poem, the fruit becomes a symbol of the consequences of unchecked emotion, something that appears appealing but ultimately leads to harm and destruction.
The image of the “foe” who steals into the garden at night evokes a sense of stealth and deception. The fact that the foe is drawn to the fruit under the cover of darkness suggests that the destructive power of suppressed emotions operates in secrecy, hidden from view until it’s too late. This night-time imagery adds a layer of foreboding and inevitability to the poem, making it clear that the foe’s fate is sealed once they are drawn into the trap set by the speaker’s repressed anger.
The final image of the foe lying “outstretched beneath the tree” further reinforces the fatal consequences of the speaker’s actions. The foe’s death, brought on by the poison fruit, symbolizes the destructive potential of internalized anger, which not only harms others but ultimately destroys the one who harbors it.
Blake’s Moral Message
The moral of A Poison Tree is clear: repressed anger is not harmless but can grow into something far more dangerous. Blake’s poem serves as a warning against internalizing negative emotions, suggesting that these feelings, if left unaddressed, can manifest in harmful ways, both toward others and toward oneself. The fatal consequence of the foe’s actions serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of harboring ill will and refusing to confront negative emotions openly and honestly.
The poem also critiques societal norms that discourage open expression of emotions, particularly in the context of relationships and social interactions. By presenting the speaker’s choice to conceal their anger, Blake draws attention to the dangers of repression, urging the reader to recognize the importance of confronting negative emotions in a healthy and productive way. This critique is particularly relevant in the context of Blake’s own time, when societal and religious expectations often suppressed individual expression in favor of conformity and restraint.
Conclusion
The Poison Tree is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the consequences of repressed anger. Through its simple yet effective structure, vivid imagery, and moral message, Blake offers a timeless reflection on the destructive potential of suppressed emotions. The poem’s critique of human nature and societal norms, combined with its symbolic use of nature imagery, makes it a poignant commentary on the dangers of internalized resentment.
As a British poet, Blake’s work in The Poison Tree exemplifies his ability to blend social critique with philosophical insight, using the natural world as a lens through which to examine the complexities of human behavior. This poem, like much of Blake’s work, continues to resonate today, offering a powerful reminder of the importance of emotional honesty and the dangers of allowing anger to fester unchecked.
