Top 5: William Blake Poems

As an artist I develop inspiration by studying great art. Therefore, in what will hopefully be a regular feature here on the Afro, I am going to delve into the catalogues of some of the artists I respect. Maybe you'll find a favorite of yours sometime soon, or maybe this will be your first introduction to a particular artist. The first one up is the poet William Blake. So, followed by a small excerpt, here are (in no particular order) my...

Top 5 William Blake Poems

1. The Tyger (1794) - Quite possibly one of Blake's most famous poems, known for it's wonderful description of man's look into the nature of the (supposedly) savage beast.

"Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?"

2. "Songs of Experience": Introduction (1794) - From his book of the same name, as a writer I love the subject of this poem and the musicality of the language.

"Hear the voice of the Bard!
Who Present, Past, & Future, sees;
Whose ears have heard
The Holy Word
That walk'd among the ancient trees,"

3. A Poison Tree (1794) - A short, truthful glimpse into the humanity inherent in hatred.

"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."

4. The Book of Thel (1789) - A little different than his earlier fare, it tells the story of a young female who questions the reasoning behind existence and death. Some consider it one of his prophetic books, but at the very least it's philosophically interesting.

"Why cannot the Ear be closed to its own destruction?
Or the glistning Eye to the poison of a smile!
Why are Eyelids stord with arrows ready drawn,
Where a thousand fighting men in ambush lie?
Or an Eye of gifts & graces, show'ring fruits & coined gold!
Why a Tongue impress'd with honey from every wind?
Why an Ear, a whirlpool fierce to draw creations in?
Why a Nostril wide inhaling terror trembling & affright.
Why a tender curb upon the youthful burning boy!
Why a little curtain of flesh on the bed of our desire?"

5. Proverbs of Hell (1793) - Another famous work, this time from the book, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. This poem is a clever collection of proverbs written in imitation of the biblical prophecies but with Blake's own spin, questioning the perceptions of evilness about Satan and Hell.

"A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees."
"Excess of sorrow laughs. Excess of joy weeps."
"Every thing possible to be believ'd is an image of truth."
"You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough."

Honorable Mentions: The Sick Rose, Auguries of Innocence, "And did those feet in ancient time"