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 watered 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 veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see;
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
Unlocking the Secrets of “A Poison Tree”
William Blake’s “A Poison Tree” is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that delves into the destructive nature of unexpressed anger. Published in 1794 as part of his collection Songs of Experience, this poem offers a timeless lesson about human emotions and their consequences. It is a profound exploration of how resentment, when nurtured in silence, can grow into something truly dangerous, not only for the individual holding the anger but also for those around them. The poem’s enduring appeal lies in its clear language and its universal message, making it a compelling piece for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of human emotion.
A Poison Tree Summary: The Core Message
At its heart, “A Poison Tree” presents a stark contrast between two ways of dealing with anger. The speaker initially expresses anger towards a friend, and that anger quickly dissipates. However, when angry with an enemy, the speaker chooses to suppress this feeling, allowing it to fester and grow in secret. This repressed anger is personified as a tree, which the speaker actively cultivates with negative emotions like fear, tears, false smiles, and cunning. Eventually, this “poison tree” bears a tempting, bright apple. The foe, drawn by its allure, enters the speaker’s garden at night, eats the apple, and is found dead beneath the tree in the morning. The central idea is a powerful warning: unexpressed anger is far more dangerous and destructive than anger that is openly communicated. It highlights how holding onto resentment can poison the mind and lead to tragic, irreversible outcomes.
A Poison Tree Analysis: A Stanza by Stanza Exploration
Let us delve deeper into the poem, examining how Blake masterfully crafts his message through each stanza.
Stanza 1: The Seeds of Wrath
The poem opens with a clear distinction in how anger is handled:
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.
Here, the speaker immediately establishes a contrast. When anger is directed at a friend, open communication leads to resolution. The line “I told my wrath, my wrath did end” demonstrates the healthy release of emotion. However, when the anger is aimed at a foe, the speaker chooses silence. The phrase “I told it not, my wrath did grow” is pivotal. It introduces the central metaphor of the poem: anger as something that can expand and intensify when kept hidden. This initial choice sets the stage for the destructive events that follow, emphasizing the danger of internalizing negative feelings.
Stanza 2: Cultivating the Poison
The second stanza vividly describes the speaker’s active role in nurturing this hidden anger:
And I watered it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears:
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
Blake employs powerful imagery here. The suppressed anger is no longer just “growing” passively; it is being deliberately cultivated. The speaker “watered it in fears” and “Night & morning with my tears,” suggesting that anxiety, sorrow, and constant rumination fuel the resentment. Even more chilling is the idea that the speaker “sunned it with smiles, / And with soft deceitful wiles.” This reveals a sinister layer of hypocrisy. The speaker outwardly pretends to be friendly or unbothered, while inwardly, this false facade only serves to nourish the growing hatred. This stanza powerfully illustrates how internalizing anger can lead to duplicity and a deeper, more insidious form of malice.
Stanza 3: The Fruit of Malice
As the hidden anger matures, it bears a tangible, dangerous outcome:
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.
The “poison tree” has now fully developed, growing “both day and night,” indicating the relentless nature of the speaker’s resentment. It culminates in “an apple bright.” This apple is a potent symbol, reminiscent of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, representing temptation and ultimate downfall. The foe is drawn to its allure, and significantly, “he knew that it was mine.” This suggests that the foe was aware of the speaker’s underlying animosity, or perhaps the apple itself radiated a quality that linked it to the speaker’s malice. The brightness of the apple is deceptive, masking its deadly nature, much like the speaker’s “smiles” in the previous stanza.
Stanza 4: The Bitter Harvest
The final stanza reveals the tragic and disturbing climax of the poem:
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 foe, enticed by the apple, “into my garden stole” under the cover of darkness, “When the night had veiled the pole” (meaning when it was completely dark). This act of stealing into the garden suggests a transgression, perhaps a reciprocal act of deceit or a fatal error in judgment. The chilling conclusion comes in the morning: “In the morning glad I see; / My foe outstretched beneath the tree.” The speaker’s “glad” reaction to the foe’s death is profoundly disturbing, highlighting the complete corruption of the speaker’s soul by the nurtured anger. This ending serves as a stark warning about the ultimate destructive power of unaddressed resentment, leading to both the physical demise of the foe and the moral demise of the speaker.
Unpacking the Poetic Craft: Literary Devices in A Poison Tree
Blake employs a range of literary and poetic devices to imbue “A Poison Tree” with its profound meaning and lasting impact. Understanding these techniques enhances our appreciation of the poem’s artistry.
- Metaphor: The central and most powerful literary device is the extended metaphor of anger as a “poison tree.” The wrath is not just a feeling; it is a living entity that grows, is watered, sunned, and bears fruit.
“I told it not, my wrath did grow.”
“And I watered it in fears… And I sunned it with smiles…”
“Till it bore an apple bright.”These lines vividly illustrate how an abstract emotion is transformed into a tangible, deadly plant. The “apple bright” is also a metaphor for the poisoned outcome or consequence of the speaker’s nurtured hatred.
- Personification: Closely related to metaphor, personification gives human qualities to abstract concepts. The “wrath” is personified as something that can “grow,” be “watered,” and “sunned,” as if it were a living being with needs.
“my wrath did grow.”
This personification makes the anger seem more active and insidious, taking on a life of its own.
- Symbolism: Blake uses several potent symbols throughout the poem:
- The Tree: Represents the growth and development of suppressed anger and resentment.
- The Apple: Symbolizes temptation, deceit, and the deadly fruit of malice. It echoes the forbidden fruit from the biblical story of Adam and Eve, suggesting a fall from innocence and a fatal choice.
- The Garden: Can symbolize the speaker’s inner world or mind, where the poisonous thoughts are cultivated in secret. It is a private space where destructive emotions are allowed to flourish unchecked.
- Night: Represents secrecy, hidden intentions, and the darkness of the speaker’s heart, as well as the foe’s clandestine act.
- Imagery: The poem uses vivid sensory details to create a strong impression on the reader.
“watered it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears:”This creates a clear image of constant, sorrowful nurturing.
“Till it bore an apple bright.”
The image of a “bright” apple is visually striking, making its poisonous nature even more shocking.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows a consistent AABB rhyme scheme in each quatrain (four-line stanza).
I was angry with my friend; (A)
I told my wrath, my wrath did end. (A)
I was angry with my foe: (B)
I told it not, my wrath did grow. (B)This simple, ballad-like rhyme scheme gives the poem a deceptively childlike or nursery rhyme quality, which contrasts sharply with its dark and mature themes, making the message even more unsettling.
- Repetition: The repetition of phrases like “I was angry with my friend” and “I was angry with my foe” in the first stanza emphasizes the parallel situations and highlights the speaker’s contrasting responses. The repeated “my wrath” also underscores the personal ownership and cultivation of this destructive emotion.
- Irony: There is a strong sense of dramatic irony throughout the poem. The speaker “sunned it with smiles, / And with soft deceitful wiles,” outwardly appearing friendly while inwardly harboring deadly intent. The “bright” apple is also ironic, as its appealing appearance hides a fatal poison. The speaker’s “glad” reaction to the foe’s death is a chilling example of situational irony, as the “victory” comes at a profound moral cost.
- Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds adds to the poem’s musicality and emphasis.
“watered it in fears, / Night & morning with my tears”
This creates a flowing, almost hypnotic rhythm that draws the reader into the speaker’s dark cultivation.
The Enduring Message of “A Poison Tree”
“A Poison Tree” remains a haunting and profoundly relevant poem. It serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of repressed anger and the vital importance of honest communication. Blake’s masterful use of literary devices transforms a simple narrative into a profound psychological study of human nature. By exploring the dark consequences of resentment, the poem encourages us to reflect on our own emotional responses and consider the destructive potential of allowing anger to fester in silence. It is a timeless lesson, urging us towards understanding, forgiveness, and the courage to address our feelings openly, preventing the growth of our own “poison trees.”