Anger and misunderstanding- 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 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’s shine,

And he knew that it was mine,--

And into my garden stole

When the night veiled the pole;

In the morning, glad, I see

My foe outstretched beneath the tree,

A poison tree is about the anger we feel towards another that we are unwilling to forgive. I chose this poem because it communicates our unwillingness to understand another person’s point of view especially when they are different than us. What makes an enemy? Beliefs different than our own? Color of skin? Or maybe they worship a God other than ours?  The writer of this poem speaks about anger that is planted a small seed that grows into something bigger and bigger until it consumes his thoughts. Destruction of a human life is result of this uncontrolled anger that never considers forgiveness or gaining an understanding of his neighbor. Once he is gone the opportunity to learn about a man that could have been a loving understanding relationship is gone forever.

Learning about what we don’t understand is significant to a more peaceful world.