Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And, when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? What the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

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This is a new feature which your team has decided to pursue, i.e. from time to time, post classic pieces of poetry which are now in the public domain. We hope you enjoy this coming series.

The accompanying art work with this post is also by William Blake, specifically, it is the plate which he produced to accompany this poem. His artwork, though, is much more spectacular than this one properly demonstrates. If you would like to see more of his art, go here: http://www.gailgastfield.com/blake3.html

His poems and artwork were reproduced by copperplate engraving and coloured with washes by hand. William Rosetti, a 19th century scholar, called him the "glorious luminary". If you wish to learn more about the man and his life, visit the following site; it's worth the trip: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Blake