The Sick Rose

By William Blake

Willaim Blake (1757-1827) was an English poet, painter, and visionary, whose work combines profound spiritual themes with intense, often mystical imagery. Blake’s unique style blends poetry and visual art, making him a pioneer figure in Romantic literature and art. His work, though underappreciated in his lifetime, is now celebrated for its originality and depth.

The poem was written by William Blake and it was first published in Songs of Innocence and Experience in 1974. This is one of his most enigmatic poems and is filled with sexual symbolism. There are various theories about what exactly the worm and the rose represent. In the poem, the worm is presented as an agent of corruption, preying on the innocence of the rose. The poem is heavy with sexual imagery, leading many to believe that it reflects the oppression of sexuality and desire by Christianity during his times.

O Rose thou art sick

The invisible worm,

That flies in the night

In the howling storm:

Has found out thy bed

Of crimson joy:

And his dark secret love

Does thy life destroy.