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.
*Line 14: The speaker says the "foe" came into his garden when "night had veiled the pole." That's significant, because "the pole" could refer to the North star, which was used to guide people safely home. (source: www.shmoop.com)
