Summary of a poison tree by William Blake

Summary of "A Poison Tree" by William Blake "A Poison Tree" explores the destructive power of suppressed anger and resentment. The poem begins with the speaker describing two scenarios: when he is angry with a friend and expresses it, the anger fades; but when he is angry with a foe and keeps it hidden, the anger grows. The speaker nurtures this hidden anger with fears and deceit, symbolically watering it like a plant. Over time, the anger grows into a tree that bears a bright, tempting apple. The foe, knowing the apple belongs to the speaker, sneaks into the garden at night to steal it. By morning, the foe is found dead beneath the tree, implying that the speaker’s suppressed wrath has led to the foe’s downfall. The poem warns that unexpressed anger can become increasingly toxic, ultimately causing harm to others and possibly to oneself.