Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Tiger Tiger




Paint by Number, Signed Katreen, 1955. Reminds me of the vivid embroidered jackets that soldiers brought back from Japan and Korea.

THE TYGER (from Songs Of Experience)

By William Blake

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 wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare sieze the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art.
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

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

6 comments:

  1. When I saw the title, I had to click on it, hoping that you would post the poem. And you did!
    One of the most memorable poems ever...

    Christine

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks; glad you enjoyed it. I have another one coming soon.

    ReplyDelete
  3. i LOVE this poem! i was reciting it to myself only a few days ago as i was puttering around the house and so imagine my surprise to see that you posted it! Thank You!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm happy for the coincidence. And it sort of pleased me that Katreen dared to frame his fearful symmetry.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Reminds me of Henri Rousseau's jungle paintings. I love that poem too, it's been one of my favourites since I was a kid.

    ReplyDelete