Poison Tree

William Blakes's "A Poison Tree" William Blake's poem, "A Poison Tree" illustrates the two options we encounter when we face anger. By focusing on the two options we encounter with anger, Blake is also illustrating two sides of the human soul. The theme of the poem is the devastating effects of anger when it is allowed to fester. The poem is written in rhymed couplets, which might often be associated with nursery rhymes instead of poems dealing with hate.

It is also very easy to read and is structured in a couplet quatrain form. The first two lines of the poem represent our first option and dealing with anger. The poet expresses the best treatment for dealing with anger, which is voicing how he feels. There are two critical aspects to these lines. The first is that the poet is angry with a friend, therefore it is easier for him to forgive. The second is that this is clearly the healthiest alternative, for both parties.

By telling us, "I told my wrath, my wrath did end" (2), the poet is suggesting the best outcome for both parties is talking things out. This is significant because it leads to forgiveness. The rest of the poem deals with the negative way we can deal with anger and its damaging results. The poet explains that by expressing his anger, "it did grow" (4). This indicates that anger does not generally remain the same, but increases over time.

The tree is a metaphor for the wrath, which the poet waters in "fears" (5) and "tears" (6). In addition, the anger is sunned "with smiles/And with sift deceitful wiles" (7-8). In other words, the most negative of human emotions nurture the tree. The poet is even aware of his own deceitfulness when he keeps his anger alive with "wiles" (8). It is important to note that the poet makes a conscious decision to do these things. The wrath grows "both day and night" (9) until it bears fruit.

This is clearly an image of how anger carries with it the possibility of becoming dangerous to the point of evil. The poet realizes that his anger "bore an apple bright" (10) and does not do anything to change his behavior. The poet's anger has moved from being simply anger to being something that has the potential to harm someone. The fruit is poisonous to the enemy just as unforgiveness is poisonous to the soul.

It is also interesting to note that the poet's enemy knew the bright apple belonged to the poet, and stole it. This indicates the level of animosity that existed between the two. The poet knows the enemy will eat the apple and yet does nothing to stop him. This simply demonstrates how anger can turn to evil. Blake illustrates the damaging effects that anger has on the one who feels the anger as much as the object of the anger.

For the poet found that he was "glad to see/My foe outstretched beneath the tree" (15-6). Clearly Blake is demonstrating the power of wrath and how it can become like a cancer if it is left to fester.