THE SICK ROSE POEM CLASS 11

The Sick Rose

William Blake 

William Blake (1757-1827) was a noted poet, painter and engraver. He is a famous figure of the English Romantic Movement. Blake's poetry is marked by intense spiritual visions. Some of his famous works are Songs of Innocence, Songs of Experience, Marriage of Heaven and Hell .

Blake  wrote two sets of poems Songs of Innocence and Song of Experience. The Sick Rose occurs as part of the Songs of Experience. The poet mentions through the symbols of the rose and the worm, how intense experience preys upon unpolluted innocence.

 ORose thou art sick,

     The invisible worm

     That flies in the night,

     In the howling storm,

     Has found out thy thy bed 

     Of crimson joy:

     And his dark secret love

     Does thy life destroy.

   


                                                                                               
thou art : you are (old ues)
thy : your (old use)
crimson : deep rad