Showing results by author "William Blake" in All Categories

In this volume the English language reveals itself in a scale and depth that few others can compare with. It seems to be an advantage to be able to choose from over a million words and yet, it is not the words but the way in which they are used that resonate with us all. Is there some bond between the English and writing poetry? Maybe, maybe not, but let us celebrate these poems down the ages, not as one nation’s hoard but humanity’s gift.

It is often said that two things are unavoidable: death and taxes. Certainly the latter is a common thorn in adult life, but as to the former it seems that for many people it is merely a hiccup in life’s journey. A journey they wish, if being of good deed and character, to share at the eternity of heaven’s largesse, a reward for faith and the obligations of religion. Of course for those not so fortunate an altogether different experience was prepared for them: hell. Its nightmare visions are so terrifying, conjured up by Dante, Milton, Blake, Baudelaire and many others.

The epic poem Jerusalem was in Blake's own opinion his masterpiece. It is the last of the great prophetic books. Originally produced as an engraved book of 100 pages (only one copy of which was every fully finished in the colouring), the poem develops and unifies many of the themes Blake had been exploring in earlier works. It is a complex and powerful work, full of dramatic imagery and sublime poetry. You might think of it like a poetic version of a Wagner opera. The edition read here is the first printed version of the poem - which was impossibly hard to read in the original. This then was ...

"Milton" is an epic poem by William Blake, written and illustrated between 1804 and 1810. Its hero is John Milton, who returns from Heaven and unites with Blake to explore the relationship between living writers and their predecessors, and to undergo a mystical journey to correct his own spiritual errors.

Angels are undeniably associated with religion and more usually Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Often they are seen as supernatural beings, benevolent celestial intermediaries interposed between God, Heaven and humanity. Obviously there are complications, a fact that our classic poets through the centuries, including Alexander Pope, Edmund Spenser, Radclyffe Hall and Hafiz, use as they write verse to explain, to reveal and to help us understand exactly why Angels are so prevalent amongst our thoughts.

Bitter Lips, Sweet Heart is a unique collection of romantic poetry first assembled by a group of young male college students who got together to read poetry and drink tea every week, thinking themselves spurned romantics and talented poets. Most of the original selections have been forgotten, and the collection has been updated for this simple release with a sense of irony and sheepishness in mature adulthood. May its angst, irony, lust, and innocent affection amuse and entertain you today, just as it did the four nerdy boys who assembled it to communicate.

Discover the heartbeat of American poetry through 101 Great American Poems — a carefully curated collection that spans centuries of voices. From the reflective verses of Anne Bradstreet to the bold rhythms of Langston Hughes, this anthology captures the soul of a nation through themes of love, loss, freedom, and hope. Tracing a journey from Puritan resolve to the artistic fervor of the Harlem Renaissance, these poems invite readers to explore America's evolving identity across generations and genres.

Romanticism was a new movement in philosophy and the arts that began in the late 18th century when major political events shook the world, such as the French Revolution and American independence. It marked a distinct contrast to the prevailing Enlightenment ideals and in poetry represented a more personal intuitive, emotional and meditative expression with a back-to-nature imperative. It subsequently altered the way in which we perceive poetry and beyond as well as defining our own modern sensibilities to the arts.

America a Prophecy (1793) is the first book in Blake’s Continental Prophecies - the other two being Europe a Prophecy (1794) and The Song of Los (1795). The poem was engraved on 18 plates with illustrations by Blake, and survives in 14 known copies. Written during a time of great political and social upheaval, Blake uses his own complex invented mythology to explore the human need to resist tyranny. His verse is rich in metaphor, powerful, and apocalyptic in scope.

Milton a Poem is a captivating epic by William Blake, crafted between 1804 and 1810, featuring the legendary John Milton. This remarkable work unfolds as Milton descends from heaven to join forces with Blake, delving into the intricate bond between contemporary writers and their literary forebears. On his earthly journey, Milton embraces his feminine counterpart, Ololon, as they navigate the profound themes of unity—blending the realms of the living and the dead, the internal and external, as well as the masculine and feminine. Join this transformative exploration toward an apocalyptic union...

William Blake was largely unrecognised during his lifetime but is now considered a seminal figure in the history of poetry of the Romantic Age. His prophetic poetry has been said to form "what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language". Here a selection of his finest work, starting with "And did those feet in ancient time", is read by Sir Ralph Richardson.

The finest voices reading a wonderful selection of poetry accompanied by selected classical music.

We all love animals, even if sometimes its only from afar on TV or at a zoo. But many of us have felt a closer friendship and companionship with our friends in the animal world. We talk and react to them as if they really do understand us. Perhaps they do. In this volume Hardy, Thackeray, Carroll, DH Lawrence, Emily Dickinson, and many others share their words with our ears.

At this time of the year, as the nights close in and the temperature drops, winter seems like a season that nobody really enjoys, and we look forward all the more to spring. For many children, however, it is the bounty of Christmas that steals their attention, and for others the renewal of the New Year. But for Nature it is a pause for breath, to take stock of what has gone by in the year to date and ready herself for the energies and dramatic development to the landscape that spring will bring.

LibriVox volunteers bring you 21 recordings of The Sky Is An Immortal Tent Built By The Sons Of Los by William Blake. This was the Weekly Poetry project for August 25, 2024. ------ William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his life, Blake has become a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual art of the Romantic Age. he produced a diverse and symbolically rich collection of works, which embraced the imagination as "the body of God", or "human existence itself". - Summary by Wikipedia

A short masterpiece by the visionary English romantic poet, William Blake. The poem follows Thel, a young shepherdess who wanders through a fantastical pastoral world called the Vales of Har, yearning to understand her purpose. Primarily concerned with her own mortality, various natural entities in her environment, including a cloud and a clod of dirt, offer her insights. The poem is significant for its animistic-natural representation of divinity and its direct handling of the question of existence.

Dame Edith Evans reads the poetry of Lord Byron, William Blake, and William Shakespeare amongst many others.

Robert Speaight, Anthony Quayle, and others read a selection of poetry by William Blake, Rudyard Kipling, John Gay, and D. H. Lawrence.

Composed between 1790 and 1793 during a time of radical change and political upheaval following the French Revolution, Marriage of Heaven and Hell is a provocative exploration of duality in the cosmos. The title serves as an ironic nod to Emanuel Swedenborgs earlier theological work, Heaven and Hell, which Blake critiques throughout his text. While Swedenborgs grand, mystical vision influenced Blake, the poet sought to transcend conventional moral dichotomies, presenting a unified and depolarized universe where the material world and physical desires are embraced as integral to the divine ...

Monday Morning Christian focuses on discussing and exploring the experiences and challenges faced by Christians in their daily lives, particularly on Monday mornings. It serves as a platform for sharing stories, providing encouragement, and offering practical advice to fellow Christians.