Monday, April 8, 2013

National Poetry Month - William Blake

Mother tiger at Hogle Zoo

I heard the purpose of National Poetry Month (April) is to celebrate American poets.  I appreciate that, however, I am taking the position that I can use this month to promote poetry in general.  Please don't be offended by my use of poets of other nationalities, just take the opportunity to celebrate some great poems.  Enjoy!

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

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

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd 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?

Tiger in the water at Hogle Zoo.

Here are other poems you might enjoy:

3 comments:

  1. One of my faves. Great tiger pics too!

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  2. Great poem selections. I'm a big fan of Sara Teasdale. One of my very favorite poems though is by William Stafford:

    The Coyote in the Zoo

    A yellow eye meets mine;
    I suddenly know, too late,
    the land outside belongs
    to the one that looks away.

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    Replies
    1. This is a great poem! Thanks for sharing it. William Stafford is wonderful.

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