The Tyger—William Blake
rabbitroompoetry.substack.com
For more articles, videos, books, and resources about faith and art, visit RabbitRoom.com
The Tyger
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 seize 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 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?
Photo by Rohit Varma on Unsplash
One of my favorite poems! It sounds like a chant if read aloud, or like the beat of a tribal drum, declaring the ferocity and wonder of this fearful example of God's creation.
I memorized this poem in high school English class, choosing it because it was short and "easy" while other options were pages long, (Paul Revere's Ride, etc.). It was unforgettable and dramatic in a cosmic way, giving us a sense of the immensity and power of God, to form such an incomprehensibly majestic creature. Learning and presenting it awoke in me a fun flair for the dramatic, which I developed further in college performances and beyond: the most important, reading aloud to my children and now grandchildren. This reading, done well, will send shivers up your spine!