Saturday, July 30, 2011

Tyger, Tyger, Tiger Swallowtail

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?
1794

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11 comments:

Thérèse said...

Intelligent design!

JJ Roa Rodriguez said...

Beautiful,...

JJROd'z

Brian Miller said...

nice...great choice of verse to go with the pics...butterflies are so beautiful

Vicki Lane said...

We always leave a few milkweed plants in the garden (these were in the middle of the corn,) for their beautiful flowers and scent and for the lovely visitors they attract.

I realized, after I posted this that I used the same poem with a tiger lily last year. Ah, well. . .

Suz said...

truly you have a slice of heaven

Christine said...

What a wonderful post Vicki! The beauty of that butterfly!

BB said...

Beautiful Vicki! I love butterflies and their symbol.

Ms. A said...

I don't see nearly enough butterflies and yours is gorgeous!

jennyfreckles said...

I'm smiling, to see your work. Beautiful. Love the tracery on its wings.

Folkways Note Book said...

What a treat from William Blake -- barbara

Darla said...

Love the poem, and the awesome photos, Vicki. I find myself missing the fragrant milkweed, the memories evoked within the images you share. I love experiencing this new environment to which ive moved yet the contrast is so stark as to be almost painful at times...for a moment or two.