A Poison Tree

William Blake, 1794

Blake’s poem from Songs of Experience about anger: told to a friend it ends, but nursed in silence against a foe it grows into a tree with a poisoned apple.

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 stoleWhen the night had veil’d the pole:In the morning glad I seeMy foe outstretch’d beneath the tree.

Famous lines

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.
Songs of Experience (1794), A Poison Tree, st. 1In context
- Anger
- Friendship