TIGER, tiger, 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 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?
Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Image: "Ancient of Days," also by William Blake. Badass.
William Blake was known to be quite a mad little creature, and his other works of art suggest further revelry and psychedelia. He inspired the title of Aldous Huxley's book "The Doors of Perception," from which Jim Morrison was inspired to name his band "The Doors." How 'bout that?
Also, be sure to read any of Blake's poems in Songs of Experience. I'll probably feature one of them in a later update; stay tuned.
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