Posted by Clare on September 04, 1997 at 21:02:13:
In reply to puzzling poem posted by Haley on September 04, 1997 at 17:17:41
] A flower was offered to me,
] Such a flower as May never bore;
] But I said "I've a pretty rose tree,"
] And I passed the sweet flower o'er.
]
] Then I went to my pretty rose tree,
] To tend her by day and by night;
] But my rose turned away with jealousy,
] And her thorns were my only delight.
] By William Blake
] I was wondering what this means (if it has a meaning..)
] my first thought was that the flowers are women and he was offered one that wasn't very attractive... and he passed the flower o'er... but then the women he chose which was beautiful (the rose tree) turns out to be jealous and doesn't give him any favors.. or something...
] now is this totally off? or does this poem not even have a meaning? what do you all think ?
________
I think you are on the right track. I think the first stanza refers to a lady who was warm, willing and offering, but he was true to his lady and refused her. Yet, when he went to his love, she maybe thought he had accepted what the other lady had offered and thus rejected him because she was angry
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