Portrait of William Blake by Thomas Philips. Engraving: Christ in the Sepulcher Kept by Angels, by William Blake
Today are fulfilled 261 years since the birth of William Blake, poet, painter and engraver, and one of the greatest exponents of the artist with capital letters who stood out in all his facets. It also marked the beginning of english romantic period and he is considered a precursor of surrealism. I choose 7 poems in his memory. Because it is best to read it.
William Blake
He was born in the neighborhood of Soho in London, in a middle-class family, of merchant father and religious mother. He was an example of mastering all his arts, and of achieving belated but eternal success when he did.
And the best thing to do with it is to admire it. As painter and engraver, for those unique traits of his work. What poet, by the way of composing on his subjects such as nature and, of course, love. However, poetry inspired by mystical visions, and is considered one of the most original and prophetic of the time and of the English language in general.
7 poems
These 7 poems are just one minimum sample that I share in his memory.
Eternity
Who will chain a joy to himself
it will spoil the winged life.
But who will kiss the joy in its flutter
live in the dawn of eternity.
***
The sick rose
You are sick, oh rose!
The invisible worm
that flies at night
in the howling of the wind,
your bed discovered
of scarlet joy,
and his dark and secret love
consume your life.
***
A dream
Once a dream wove a shadow
on my bed that an angel protected:
it was an ant that had gotten lost
By the grass where I thought I was
Confused, perplexed and desperate,
dark, surrounded by darkness, exhausted,
I stumbled through the sprawling tangle,
all heartbroken, and I heard him say:
“Oh my children! Do they cry?
Will you hear your father sigh?
Are they hanging around looking for me?
Are they coming back and sobbing for me? "
Compassionate, I shed a tear;
but nearby I saw a firefly,
who replied: "What human moan
summons the guardian of the night?
It is up to me to light up the grove
while the beetle makes its rounds:
now follows the buzzing of the beetle;
little tramp, come home soon. "
***
Joy
"I do not have a name:
but I was born two days ago. "
What will i call you
"I'm happy.
My name is joy. "
May the sweet joy be with you!
Nice joy!
Sweet joy, barely two days old,
I call you sweet joy:
so you smile,
while I sing.
May the sweet joy be with you!
***
To the night star
You, blond angel of the night,
Now, as the sun rests on the mountains, it lights
your bright love tea! Put on the radiant crown
and smile at our night bed!
Smile at our loves and, while you run the
blue draperies of the sky, sow your silver dew
over all the flowers that close their sweet eyes
to the opportune dream. May your western wind sleep in
the lake. Say the silence with the glare of your eyes
and wash the dust with silver. Presto, presto,
you quit; and then the wolf barks angrily everywhere
and the lion casts fire through his eyes in the dark forest.
The wool of our sheepfolds is covered with
your sacred dew; protect them with your favor.
***
The Angel
A dream I have dreamed, meaning?
I was a virgin with a reign
A good angel guarded me,
(Damn crying nobody loved it!)
I cried at night, I cried during the day,
My tears he collected
I cried during the day, I cried at night,
I knew how to hide my enjoyment from him.
The morning blushed
He took out his wings and flew.
I dried my face, I armed the fear:
Shields, spears, ten thousand or more.
Soon my Angel returned:
I was armed, he came in vain;
Well the young time disappeared
And so my hair went gray.
***
The fairy
Come, my sparrows,
arrows of mine.
If a tear or a smile
they seduce man;
if a love affair
covers the sunny day;
if the blow of a step
it touches the heart from the roots,
here is the wedding ring,
transform any fairy into a king.
Thus sang a fairy.
From the branches I jumped
and she eluded me,
trying to run away.
But trapped in my hat
it won't take long to learn
who can laugh, who can cry,
because it is my butterfly:
I have removed the poison
of the wedding ring.