Saturday, February 2, 2008

The Garden of Love

Inspired by Reya I have joined the blogging community for Blog Poetry Slam. This poem by the poet and artist William Blake was published in 1794 in his masterpience Songs of Experience. It was brought to my attention by a former love. I should have known something was up.

The GARDEN of LOVE


I went to the Garden of Love.

And saw what I never had seen:

A Chapel wsa built in the midst,

Where I used to play on the green.



And the gates of this Chapel were shut,

And Thou shalt not, writ over the door;

So I turn'd to the Garden of Love,

That so many sweet flowers bore,



And I saw it was filled with graves,

And tomb-stones where flowers should be:

And Priests in black gowns, were walking their rounds,

And binding with briars, my joys & desires.

13 comments:

deborahoak said...

Blake has got to be part of the Brigid poetry fest, so I am so pleased to find him here (and yet another wonderful blog)! Thank you!!!

mouse (aka kimy) said...

blake is pure genius....thank you.

did you ever get around to reading the novel 'burning bright'??

xxxxx

Reya Mellicker said...

Oh I am jumping up and down with happiness! Loving Blake this year in particular, and seeing you post this ... well ... it's perfection.

Love to you, dah-ling, so much love!

Anonymous said...

Kimy said it first--pure genius.

ched

Steve Reed said...

Excellent choice! You can't really go wrong with good ol' Bill!

Mikey T said...

blake opened my eyes to the doors of perception ... glad to see he inspired you too!

Ambermoggie, a fragrant soul said...

Blake for Brigid, perfect:)

lettuce said...

blake of course.

thankyou.

Unknown said...

interesting work.

dennis said...

Dennis ikes the poem you chose. Dennis posted his favorite poem by Langston Hughes.

Gary said...

Deborah - Great idea. I enjoyed your blog as well.

Kim - I am ashamed to say that I have not read it yet but I do own it. I think I shall pick it up this week. I am sure I am going to love it.

Reya - Right back at ya!

Ched - He certainly is.

Steve - My second choice was another bill - Shakespeare that is. I would have chosen one of my favorite sonnets.

Mikey - You are quite the poet yourself.

Amber - Thanks for stopping by.

Letty - No, Thank YOU.

Cinn - Added you to my blogroll so I can find you more easily.

Dennis - Langston is wonderful.

WAT said...

A former love? Hmmm...I'm most intrigued now by THAT and this poem.

LadrĂ³n de Basura (a.k.a. Junk Thief) said...

Well, I must admit I'd probably not read that verse of Blake since college days. My, what a little path he takes us on in that verse from lovey dovey to graves and briars mixed with desires! I think I've lived, loved and learned enough from college days to know the truth in his words today.

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