"A Poison Tree" by William Blake

 "A Poison Tree" by  William Blake

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.

Detailed Summary of “A Poison Tree” by William Blake

“A Poison Tree” is a short and powerful lyric poem by William Blake that explores the destructive nature of suppressed anger and the moral consequences of revenge. Through a simple narrative and extended metaphor, Blake contrasts the outcomes of openly expressed anger with anger that is hidden and nurtured in secrecy.

The poem begins with the speaker explaining that when he was angry with a friend, he communicated his feelings honestly, and as a result, the anger disappeared. In contrast, when he felt anger toward an enemy, he chose not to express it. This silence causes the anger to grow rather than fade. Blake immediately establishes the central idea of the poem: unexpressed emotions, especially anger, do not die; instead, they intensify and become harmful.

Further the speaker describes how he deliberately nourished his anger. He “watered” it with fear and “sunned” it with deceit, suggesting that negative emotions are strengthened by anxiety, dishonesty, and manipulation. These images personify anger as a living thing that grows over time. The speaker’s actions show conscious intent, indicating that the growth of hatred is not accidental but the result of deliberate emotional choices.

The anger eventually grows into a metaphorical tree that bears a bright, attractive apple. This apple represents the temptation of revenge. Its outward beauty hides its poisonous nature, symbolizing how vengeance can appear satisfying or justified while being morally corrupt. The enemy, drawn by the apple’s appealing appearance, enters the speaker’s garden at night and eats the fruit.

In the final stanza, the speaker finds his enemy lying dead beneath the tree the next morning. There is no expression of guilt or remorse; instead, the tone suggests a quiet satisfaction. This chilling ending emphasizes the destructive consequences of nurturing hatred. While the enemy dies physically, the speaker’s moral corruption is equally significant, suggesting that revenge damages both the victim and the avenger.

In this way, “A Poison Tree” conveys Blake’s moral lesson that suppressed anger and revenge are far more dangerous than openly expressed emotions. 

The poem warns readers that honesty and forgiveness prevent emotional decay, while secrecy and deceit lead to destruction. Through its simple language and powerful symbolism, Blake exposes the psychological and ethical dangers of cultivating hatred.

Themes:

1. Anger and its Consequences:
   The poem contrasts two ways of dealing with anger: open communication and suppression. The former leads to resolution, while the latter leads to destructive outcomes. This highlights the importance of addressing negative emotions constructively.

2. Deception and Facade:
   The speaker hides their true feelings behind smiles and deceit, which helps the anger grow unnoticed. This illustrates how pretending everything is fine can exacerbate internal conflicts.

3. Revenge and Retribution:
   The culmination of suppressed anger results in a symbolic act of revenge. The enemy's death underlines the ultimate harm caused by holding onto grudges and seeking retribution.

4. Moral Corruption:
   The tree and its fruit are metaphors for the corrupting influence of negative emotions. The tree flourishes through deceit and fear, symbolizing how these emotions can consume and destroy both the individual and others.

Symbolism:

1. The Tree:
   The tree represents the growing power of hidden anger. Just as a tree needs nourishment to grow, suppressed anger is fed by fear, tears, and deceit.

2. The Apple:
   The apple symbolizes the culmination of the speaker’s repressed anger, enticing but ultimately lethal. It reflects the Biblical reference to the forbidden fruit, linking the poem to themes of temptation and the fall of man.

3. The Garden:
   The garden serves as a private space where the speaker’s emotions are nurtured. It represents the internal world where suppressed feelings are cultivated.