Please describe the poem "A Poison Tree," by William Blake. Focus on the wrath ending/continuing, the title, and on the devices used.

William Blake's poem "A Poison Tree" focuses on wrath and how it can be either settled or grown. By telling your friend that you are angry with them, and by talking about it, a resolution can be reached and you can make amends. However, if you do not tell your friend, amends cannot be made so your anger will continue to fester and grow. This is discussed in the first stanza:

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. 

The poem continues to describe the growth of the wrath by using a tree as a metaphor. The narrator waters the tree with tears, and suns it using smiles. That represents secretly being upset, but pretending not to be upset.

In the second stanza, the words "soft deceitful" are used as juxtaposition. Soft has a positive connotation, while deceitful does not. This follows the theme of the poem as a tree (often associated with nature and health) is used to represent wrath. That explains the title, "A Poison Tree." The poem is about someone not telling their friend that they are angry, which makes their anger grow until the friend finally discovers the narrator's wrath. All of the narrator's anger and wrath could have been saved if he had just told the friend he was upset in the first place.

Hope this helps!