The Tyger
An Illustrated poem from the past
I’ve been told this poem is ‘overdone’ and I disagree. It is a favorite of mine, so I’m taking the opportunity to illustrate it, which is a delight. I hope you enjoy!
The Tyger
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?
—William Blake
It's always interesting to compare it to his "The Lamb."
Been one of my favorites, too, for over seventy years. A minor delightful detail, vowel shift, -that back in that day eye and symmetry rhymed.
& BTW, delightful illustrations!