- wrathnounChapter 1 →
A strong, intense feeling of anger that builds up inside a person. In this poem it is the dangerous emotion the speaker chooses either to express or to hide.
“I told my wrath, my wrath did end.”
- did endphraseChapter 1 →
Came to a stop; ceased to exist. Here it means the anger completely disappeared once the speaker spoke it aloud to their friend.
“I told my wrath, my wrath did end.”
- wateredverbChapter 1 →
Gave water to a plant so it would grow. Used here figuratively to mean the speaker fed and nourished their hidden anger, helping it grow stronger over time.
“And I watered it in fears, / Night and morning with my tears;”
- sunnedverbChapter 1 →
Exposed something to sunlight to help it grow. Used here to mean the speaker gave warmth and energy to their hidden anger by pretending to be cheerful and friendly.
“And I sunned it with smiles,”
- deceitfuladjectiveChapter 1 →
Intended to mislead or trick someone into believing something false. Here it describes the speaker's smiles, which look friendly but are actually hiding deep hatred.
“And with soft deceitful wiles.”
- wilesnounChapter 1 →
Clever tricks or cunning strategies used to deceive or manipulate someone. In this poem the speaker uses them to hide their true feelings and lure the enemy into a false sense of safety.
“And with soft deceitful wiles.”
- foenounChapter 1 →
An enemy; someone you are in conflict with or feel strong hostility toward. The speaker uses this word to distinguish the person they hate from the friend mentioned earlier.
“My foe outstretched beneath the tree.”
- outstretchedadjectiveChapter 1 →
Lying flat with the body fully extended, spread out on the ground. Here it describes the enemy's dead body lying motionless under the tree.
“My foe outstretched beneath the tree.”
- gladadjectiveChapter 1 →
Pleased or happy about something. In this poem it carries a disturbing tone because the speaker feels satisfaction upon discovering their enemy is dead.
“In the morning glad I see / My foe outstretched beneath the tree.”
A Poison TreeShort story by William Blake