I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

The Poison Tree by William Blake

Have you ever felt angry at a friend, but your anger subsides as you learn to forgive? Have you ever felt angry at someone–perhaps a friend–who becomes a “foe” because your anger did not subside? Anger and hate only consumes you, as the other person continues to live happy, and your hurt and dismay towards them doesn’t cross their mind. All of this resentment remains within you all while you are the one hurting, killing yourself internally, filling yourself with anger and hate. We must learn to forgive and move on with our lives. William Blake’s The Poison Tree is a great poem filled with wisdom regarding forgiveness and the importance of it. If we don’t let things go, we create “A Poison Tree”, as we must learn to forgive for ourselves and our own health. Remember, the longer we remain angry, the bigger the poison grows, hence the name of the poem. It once began as a seed. Let it subside, fill yourself with relief as you forgive. The complete poem is available below.

The Poison Tree by William Blake

I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine.
And he knew that it was mine,

And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

Have a great day!