Poetry Presentation Kyle Hull

Augries of Innocence The wild deer wandering here and there Keeps 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 eve Has left the brain that won't believe. The owl that calls upon the night Speaks the unbeliever's fright. He who shall hurt the little wren Shall never be beloved by men. He who the ox to wrath has moved Shall never be by woman loved. The wanton boy that kills the fly Shall feel the spider's enmity. He who torments the chafer's sprite Weaves a bower in endless night. The caterpillar on the leaf Repeats 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 sand And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour. A robin redbreast in a cage Puts all heaven in a rage. A dove-house filled with doves and pigeons Shudders hell through all its regions. A dog starved at his master's gate Predicts the ruin of the state. A horse misused upon the road Calls to heaven for human blood. Each outcry of the hunted hare A 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 fight Does the rising sun affright. Every wolf's and lion's howl Raises from hell a human soul.

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.

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?