Analysing the poem ‘A Poison Tree’ by William Blake

There are repeated references to both day and night in the poem, illustrating the all consuming nature of emotions. The extended metaphor of a tree is used to depict how negative strong emotions can grow. The apple grown on the tree could symbolise the speaker’s growing resentment towards their “foe”. The rhythm of the poem is straightforward and matter-of-fact, reflecting the everyday nature of these emotions. Arguably, the ABAB rhyme scheme has a nursery rhyme feel giving the impression of it as a ‘cautionary tale’.