Poetry

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Poetry
Presentation
Kyle Hull
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Augries of Innocence
The wild deer wandering here and thereKeeps the
human soul from care.The lamb misused breeds
public strife,And yet forgives the butcher's
knife.The bat that flits at close of eveHas
left the brain that won't believe.The owl that
calls upon the nightSpeaks the unbeliever's
fright. He who shall hurt the little wrenShall
never be beloved by men.He who the ox to wrath
has movedShall never be by woman loved. The
wanton boy that kills the flyShall feel the
spider's enmity.He who torments the chafer's
spriteWeaves a bower in endless night. The
caterpillar on the leafRepeats to thee thy
mother's grief.Kill not the moth nor
butterfly,For the Last Judgment draweth nigh.
To see a world in a grain of sandAnd a heaven in
a wild flower,Hold infinity in the palm of your
handAnd eternity in an hour. A robin redbreast
in a cagePuts all heaven in a rage.A dove-house
filled with doves and pigeonsShudders hell
through all its regions.A dog starved at his
master's gatePredicts the ruin of the state.A
horse misused upon the roadCalls to heaven for
human blood. Each outcry of the hunted hareA
fibre from the brain does tear.A skylark wounded
in the wing,A cherubim does cease to sing.The
game-cock clipped and armed for fightDoes the
rising sun affright.Every wolf's and lion's
howlRaises from hell a human soul.
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Meaning/Theme
The poem Auguries of Innocence has a lot to
do with kindness and how if we are cruel to
animals we will never be accepted by the kinder
people in society. It also tells us about how
human are responsible and our reactions to the
cruelty. This poem uses a lot of
metaphors such as in the first stanza were it
says To see a world in a grain of sand, it
means that to see so much in something so small.
It is all about getting the most out of life and
appreciating the little things that make the
difference. I choose this poem
because is so famous and well known. Also because
the author (William Blake) is so praised for his
work. It is one of my favourite poems of all
time.
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Five questions
1. What kind of message does the poem convey? 2.
Why was this specific theme chosen? 3. How would
you interpret this poem? 4. Has this poem
changed your appreciation for the little
things? 5. How did this poem affect your outlook
on the issue?