"The Road Of The Excess Leads To The Palace Of Wisdom."

The road of excess wills us to a place of wisdom. It's a place where we wish and needed to be but never really think hard enough to make it happen to be ours. What William Blake is trying to tell us is that if we take the road of excess, or if you're a Christian you might as will call this road and pathway, or picture this to look like narrow road and pathway, will lead us into this place where we get our reward and rest. In the Bible, from what I know, the reward is usually like a special type of crown that represent something you have done or sacrifice to walk on this road. One of the crowns that it is most well known is the Crown of Life. I remember this because it is also the symbol of my favorite color, yellow. On the other hand, if you are looking at this quote as human kind, like just normal people because you don't understand Christian or religious stuff, then this quote can be put into another example also. Going to school every day and stress out every night on your studying, then at the end you'll get your reward. Like getting your diploma after high school is an awesome reward. Getting a 4.0 or over. Especially, you get to go to your career that you have always wanted to be ever since you are a child. When William Blake says, 'the palace of wisdom', he meant Heaven. As you can see on this picture, the stairs is the road that William Blake is talking about here. And it is pretty narrow. Obviously this road (stairs) is very steep. At first glance or maybe the first couple steps you may have been already give up and if there is an elevator around then you might as well take the easy way. But this quote says 'The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.' this doesn't mean that only can the stairs can only reach the palace of wisdom, but receive the reward of faithfulness.

Reading Response: The Revolutionary Vision of William Blake, By Thomas J. J. Altizer

William Blake is commonly known to be the greatest modern day prophet. Ideally it was not always this way. It was not until a century after his death that William Blake’s extraordinary stature as a poet, engraver, and painter became greatly recognized.  In the article The Revolutionary Vision of William Blake, the author Thomas J. J. Altizer discusses the several arguments of Blake’s thoughts regarding his anti- capitalism nature and his opinion on civilization. Even though he has made several influences the two things that his work has not influenced is religion and our politics. Despite this, he is still said to be our greatest modern prophet.  Both common politics, and common religion today can be known as inversions or reversals of Blake’s vision, and that alone gives a way into his vision. That vision which is found profoundly centered on Jesus. The article goes on to introduce the different visions of Satan himself compared to John Milton’s version.  “Blake names an absolute self-alienation as Satan, but this occurs through his own gradual transformation as a visionary, wholly transforming his earlier vision of Satan, and only now is called forth as the uniquely Christian creator” (Altizer 35). Most of this article compares to Blake’s past work by connecting it to our modern day.  It goes into depth about Christ and the crucifixion, how self-annihilation is the ultimate sacrifice, hence a sacrifice inseparable from the sacrifice of Christ. This article explains Blake’s ultimate views on religion as a whole.  It takes Christianity and shows how it has been completely reversed comprehensively in its historical evolution, and that it was originally an apocalyptic faith or way.  William Blake was christened, married, and buried by the rites of the Church of England, but his beliefs were likely to outrage the orthodox. In A Vision of the Last Judgment he wrote that “the Creator of this World is a very Cruel Being,” whom Blake called Urizen, and in his emblem book For the Sexes: The Gates of Paradise, he addressed Satan as “The Accuser who is The God of This World.” Even though William Blake was a Christian, he did not conform to any denomination within the Christian faith. William Blake became aware of the theory that God was man. Blake expresses this through his poem, the "Songs of Innocence", "The Divine Image" where he asserts that "Where mercy love and pity dwell, there God is dwelling too". He also says that love is "the human form divine". Even though Blake was raised in the Christian religion, his thoughts and opinions that wandered away from the Christian ways, and opinions of others from doing so never seemed to stop him from believing in what he did. This explains why no poet or artist has been more refused or evaded by theology than Blake himself.

Before reading this article I never could grasp William Blake’s take on religion, through each poem we read and discussed it all seemed to connect to the bible in some aspect. This article helped me understand what Blake really thought about Christianity. Even being raised Christian, he formed his own thoughts and opinions on what he thought made sense and tested those theories through his art and literature. This article discusses his views own Satan and Christ, and their relation’s with each other and how they reversed the concept of the Christian religion. Even though William Blake’s work was not very popular during his lifetime due to his opinions, he became one of the greatest prophesy of our time. What I like about Blake is not only his work but how he never let other people’s opinions of him get in that way of his passion for art and literature. Blake was influenced by other artists to create his own works of art, William Blake actually used John Milton’s idea of Satan to create his own in The Paradise Lost. This was illustrated more often than any other work by John Milton and more often than that of any other writer. I feel that Blake always had an open mind to everything that thought up or made into fact before forming his own opinion, but when he formed his opinion he always stood by it. This article helped me understand not only what William Blake accomplished as a whole, nor what others believed in but how he always stood by his opinions, and his beliefs.

'Blake Is My Homie': Good Technique & Organization

Looking on Mr. Keene’s blog and scrolling up and down on the student's blog page, I've found a lot of cool titles that catches my eyes but the one that I think is best and more understandable to me is 'Blake Is My Homie'. This blog is by students on B-Day in 7th period. I like how each of their blog is spread apart very neat. This helps me know right on way that who is who that is doing the assignment. And I like how they have the 'Williams Biography', 'Works cited', and 'Poem Mention in Post (Artistic Side of Blake)' on the top on the page that I can easily click on it and go on to where they show more information about who they got their information too and learn more about William Blake. Plus going back to the home page is very easy too. What I find that interesting me and funny was how they put up the same poem for 'Posts' as I did. About the 'Little Boy Lost' and 'Little Boy Found'. I was even gladder how they mention both poems together. I also like one of their prose poem called 'Alone'. It sound very unique and it touch me. I believe that there are many times in our life specially in the teens age must have been in this shoe before to understand the author pain and knowing what he or she is going through the same steps you been through. But life is life and the time doesn't wait. As time goes on we have to keep walking along everyone else also.  Last but not least I like how I can share their page to Facebook because they have this tiny bar to click and share. As far as I see they don't have any videos yet. I say this blog is important because it show a lot of information about William Blake and it have proves of where they got their information from. And everything of their blog is very neat. To those who know nothing about Romanticism or William Blake (my homie) should go onto this website and read it for yourself because everything in your world of knowing more about Romanticism will start to click like bright yellow light bulb.

Blake's 'Little Boy Lost / Found'

'Little Boy Lost'

"Father, father, where are you going?

Oh do not walk so fast!

Speak, father, speak to you little boy,

Or else I shall be lost."

The night was dark, no father was there,

The child was wet with dew;

The mire was deep, and the child did weep,

And away the vapour flew.

'Little Boy Found'

The little boy lost in the lonely fen,

Led by the wandering light,

Began to cry, but God, ever nigh,

Appeared likes his father, in white.

He kissed the child, and the hand led,

And to his mother brought, 

who in sorrow pale, through the lonely dale,

The little boy weeping sought.

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These two awesome poems seem to go together. Not because it sound the same or look alike but it sounds nicer and happier together. Especially reading the first poem and then to the second poem. It just makes a happier ending for the little boy who was lost because of his father left him behind in the dark. Then all mighty power the Lord appear and leads the lost boy home to his mother who was waiting and looking for her son to return. When I read the first poem alone it sound really sad because of how the father can just leave his little boy alone and be lost for so long. The little boy cries for help and no one answer him back with a hope of his parent. But right after I read the second poem which I found it right next to the first poem I was so happy of the little lost boy. God came and took him home. Not just that God kisses the child and hold his hand to his mother. It makes me so happy! William Blake can write awesome poems that go together. I also read about 'A little Girl Lost' but I think 'A little Girl Lost' goes with 'A Little Boy Lost' These two poems are even sadder than 'Little Boy Lost'. To be honest these two poems remind me of this song called 'Amazing Grace'. The reason why it remind this song is because of the part were it said "I once was lost, but now am found" and "grace will lead us home". True the little was lost and then was found by God and led him home. I was so amaze when everything clicks and makes sense. Out of these two poem my favorite is when the little boy was found because God heard his cries and came to him with unconditional love.

Blake's 'Hear The Voice'

HEAR THE VOICE

EAR the voice of the Bard,

Who present, past, and future, sees;

Whose ears have heard

The Holy Word

That walk'd among the ancient trees;

Calling the lapsèd soul,

And weeping in the evening dew;

That might control

The starry pole,

And fallen, fallen light renew!

'O Earth, O Earth, return!

Arise from out the dewy grass!

Night is worn,

And the morn

Rises from the slumbrous mass.

'Turn away no more;

Why wilt thou turn away?

The starry floor,

The watery shore,

Is given thee till the break of day.'

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In this wonderful poem by William Blake reflected the Bard as a witness to present, past, and the future. The Bard calls to the lost soul to hear The Holy Word and will witness the weeping in the evening dew. The day when He returns to this world will break everything apart. Those who hear the voice should have no excuse to turn away however those who walk by faith will live forever with Him. The Bard hopes that the soul will yield and come to him as soon as possible. When I read this poem I feel like sitting at church and listen to the pastor preach. When the pastor preaches, yes I feel like the Bard whisper into my ear and telling me that the day is near. William Blake was not just any English poet but very religious in a very unique way. He put everything in human nature into human kind. In this way we see everything right before our eyes. Every sentence is either not making sense at all or very understandable. This poem makes me have to think a lot about the Bible in the New Testament. In the New Testament it tells us so many things that are going to happen at the end of the world. Plus most of all of them are already appearing in these days. Yet more are coming true! I likes William Blake's poem because not just really religious related things but it’s also helping me understanding God more too. This helps me keeping in touch with my relationship with Him. I encourage you to read your Holy Word (spiritual food) and rethink about this poem. The Bard who knows the present, past, and the future is waiting patiently. He who also understands you more than you can understand yourself. The Bard will save you from evil. Listen to his nice, beautiful, soft voice is calling you to turn to him.

'The Little Black Boy'

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Since my article review refers to Blake’s “Little Black Boy” quite a bit, I figured I should do one of my posts on the poem itself. As you can see, the poem was written as well as illustrated by Blake, and the art that goes along with the poem really gives the poem the most powerful effect. The weeping willow is the graphic that stands out the most to me, especially since in real life weeping willows are my favorite trees. Upon doing a little research, I learned that weeping willows actually symbolize dreams and hope, which fits the poem perfectly. In the poem, a mother is comforting her son and telling him that God is there and that the sun brings them both good things. In the first picture, the little boy appears to be black, while in the second there is no mistaking that his skin is pale. “And these black bodies and this sunburnt face, Is but a cloud, and like a shady grove.” In this quote, she is speaking of how having black skin holds then back, “clouding” them from the rest of the world. The irony within the poem is that Blake was very much against slavery, and wanted blacks to be able to be free. The way that God is spoken of, (“And gives His light, and gives His heat away”) makes me think that Blake is trying to get through to the reader that God loves us no matter what the color of our skin is, and His love is unconditional, while at the same time the slaves have a closer connection to God. When I read this poem, I felt like it’s just packed full of hope and Blake wants the reader to really understand the perspective it’s coming from after a thorough read. I also felt like this poem is one of the strongest pieces of evidence I have read of his work that really shows us his abolitionist opinion. My favorite part of the poem is when Blake says “Look on the rising sun: there God does live, And gives His light, and gives His heat away, And flowers and trees and beasts and men receive Comfort in morning, joy in the noonday”, because the message he is trying to convey is how much closer slaves became to God because of their suffering, and he was doing all he could to help their suffering (due to slavery) end.

Article: 'Blake's Antislavery Designs for Songs of Innocence and of Experience'

Songs of Innocence and of Experience by William Blake is among his most famous and renowned pieces of literature. Blake was a Romantic Poet, and in doing so he shared the ideals of his fellow Romantics, such as Wordsworth and Shelley. These ideals, such as getting away from civilization and anti-capitalism, shaped every aspect of the Romantic lifestyle, including Blake’s opinion towards the Slavery still in effect during this period. This is an aspect I had never realized prior to reading the article “Blake’s Antislavery Designs for Songs of Innocence and of Experience” by Christine Gallant of Georgia State University. I’ve learned so much about the abolitionist movement in History class and the effect it had on society, but I never realized how widespread the movement became. In the article, Gallant explains just how strongly Blake was against Slavery and how much he actually contributed to the abolitionist movement. In Songs of Innocence, the plant Blake chooses to draw is the sugar cane. Sugar cane was an extremely labor intensive plant for slaves to gather and harvest, a fact that the reader must realize in order to really understand the intended impact. The Sugar canes Blake drew had sharp edged pointed leaves that somewhat resembled knives, and Blake also included fire in Songs which was the first indication of slave revolt throughout the West Indies. It was also the method used to punish slave revolt leaders in an attempt to serve as a message to other slaves who were forced to watch. “Blake emphasizes the Biblical point that man was created “in the image of God”, a sly reminder to those of a missionary bent that the “divine image” comes in many colors” (Gallant 127). This passage is definitely a key point in her article. Blake emphasizes that if God created Blacks too, it was obviously for a reason, and that reason is not so they can be enslaved by white men. It is quite common for grape vines and sugar canes to be entwined in Blake’s work. It is emphasized in the article that grape vines symbolize liberation and sugar canes imply slavery. Liberation and slavery lead to abolitionism, Blake’s key point. “The Little Black Boy” is the most abruptly abolitionist poem among the Songs collection. The art along with the poetry show the black boy kneeling, while in another picture he is beneath a willow tree, which symbolizes dreams, life and healing. Blake is saying that even though the fate of this boy is inevitable, there is still hope for abolitionism. The author provides these examples in order to open the eyes of the reader.

My interpretation of the article has definitely opened my eyes to how Blake felt toward slavery. It never occurred to me how significantly the Romantic world connected to more than just art and poetry. There is no denying that Blake left several subtle hints in his work, while other times there was no mistaking that he was antislavery (such as in “The Little Black Boy”). After reading the article, I found myself finding more and more clues among Blake’s work that highlight his view on the slavery topic. The United States fought in the Civil War in order to put an end to Slavery plantations for good, but it took a lot of work and support towards abolitionism in order to get to that point, and obviously the work of the Romantics contributed a lot to this along with antislavery support from around the world. Blake’s work contributed not only to abolitionism being successful in the United States, but in the British Empire as well. The way Blake was able to leave the reader with a lasting effect, especially with “The Little Black Boy”, made his work to end slavery that much more powerful and clear. Blake’s work was very persuasive and tastefully done. In my mind, I think about how Blake turned people against slavery through his writing and art in the same way Stephenie Meyer has glorified vampires and created a crazy mass fan base because of her “Twilight” series, especially the effect her writing leaves on the female readers. Slavery was seen as the villain in the same way that vampires are glorified in today’s society. Blake’s most dangerous and significant weapon in his fight to end slavery was his pen and his palette, and the effects of his work have remained widespread in the years to follow.

Prose Poem; Adapting to Change

Life as I used to know it. Life as I know it now.
Why must it be this way?
Disoriented and confused, where am I? How did I possibly end up here?
I think back to the way it used to be. Back when things were easy and life was simple and I felt free as a bird.
I used to find the beauty in the smalls things.
I focus on the little things in life that keep me happy.
The little things were enough. But when things change, the years pass, people around me change, I change; it’s not. I see the world through a tunnel. The thing I want the most is right in front of my face, and everything behind it is out of focus. I blur it out like I’m just waking up from anesthesia. Only the difference now is you’re my anesthesia, and everything apart from you is blurry.
So when things changed, people changed, I changed, the one thing that didn’t change is you. Something I alone can decipher, someone I alone can understand. The light at the end of the tunnel as one might say.
It started as a distraction, intriguing to the point of mindlessness. Intrigued to the starting point, intrigued by the way the world shifts around you.
Now, in the end, I see the whole picture. Where I used to focus on one beautiful rose hidden among the entire painting, I now see the way the clouds illuminate the grass and brighten the mood.
So then is change a good thing? When your world shifts, should you too? When your feet aren’t touching the ground anymore, when all you see is up and there are no limits, no boundaries. When you grow up and there’s that one moment when you know things will never be the same, and that’s a good thing. The world changes, and if I don’t adapt too, what will I be left with? That’s when I go after it.

le parti rabbia dell'oceano; Prose Poem

Sinking, while gravity pushed back down, envision a small brick tied to your ankle slowly pulling you back down. Drifting through the water, it rocks you back and forth. Your knees knocking together with the force of the waves, forgetting how to feel do to the numbing sinking in sharp needle’s, piercing your spine all at once. Tossing in the water, you begin to panic not knowing which way is up. The water rushes into your lungs and takes over. I’m drowning when I close my eyes, while falling. I can’t breathe tonight. I’m singing myself to sleep tonight, haunted by each memory. Which is true and which is false? The ice has settled under my ribs and nestled into my veins. Life is for living, in order to live you must feel alive. . The muscles begin to cramp; the blood is at halt through my veins. The oceans rough floor becoming more and more visible. Eye lids become heavy. No feeling of the sharp ridges of the rocks surrounding. Black, the shade experienced during shut eye, an aglow comparison to the dark shade appearing around me. Nature continues to take over. The heavy feeling begins to fade, seeping through the bitter ocean waters. Attain for the top. Reaching closer within each separate stroke taken. The Piercing waters begin to defrost the corpse inside out. Land is rushing near, sand sticking to the epidermis. Tossing through the shallow waters warmer water begins to surround my frame. Day breaks through the dark sky, and diminishes the storm. Slammed into the sand, my body begins to ache. My fingers begin to tingle, slowly getting the feeling back in them. Gasping for air, the water in my lungs begin to flee, oxygen fills my flooded lungs. I ask myself, “why am I alive?”, “why here?”, and “why now?” The falling sensation experienced during slumber pulls my body straight down. I open my eyes to find myself lying on the old wooden dock, looking out to sea.