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“The Human Abstract” by William Blake 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (28 Nov 1757 – 12 Aug 1827)
Pity would be no more,
If we did not make somebody Poor;
And Mercy no more could be.
If all were as happy as we;
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And mutual fear brings peace;
Till the selfish loves increase.
Then Cruelty knits a snare,
And spreads his baits with care.
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He sits down with holy fears.
And waters the ground with tears:
Then Humility takes its root
Underneath his foot.
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Soon spreads the dismal shade
Of Mystery over his head;
And the Caterpillar and Fly
Feed on the Mystery.
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And it bears the fruit of Deceit.
Ruddy and sweet to eat:
And the Raven his nest has made
In its thickest shade.
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The Gods of the earth and sea,
Sought thro’ Nature to find this Tree
But their search was all in vain:
There grows one in the Human Brain.