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William Blake

1757 - 1827

English poet, painter and printmaker, William Blake was largely disregarded during his lifetime. However, he is nowadays recognized as the earliest and most original of all Romantic poets.Blake was unfairly considered mad by his contemporaries for his eccentric views on society. He was politically influenced by the French and American Revolutions and was hostile to almost all forms of "organized" religion.


Classics
18th Century 1 min

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... [+]

Classics
18th Century 1 min

The Sick Rose

O Rose thou art sick:

The invisible worm,

That flies in the night

In the howling storm,


Has found out thy bed

Of crimson joy;

And his dark secret love

Does thy life destroy.

Classics
18th Century Romanticism 1 min

The Tyger

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

In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what... [+]

Classics
18th Century 1 min

The Lamb

Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee,
Gave thee life and bid thee feed
By the stream and o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, wooly, bright;
Gave... [+]

Classics
18th Century 1 min

The Garden of Love

I went to the Garden of Love,
And saw what I never had seen:
A Chapel was built in the midst,
Where I used to play on the green.

And the gates of this Chapel were shut,
And "Thou shalt not."... [+]

Classics
18th Century 1 min

London

I wander thro' each charter'd street,
Near where the charter'd Thames does flow,
And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every Man,
In every Infant’s... [+]