Question

a poison tree (updated version) by william blake i was angry with my friend. i told my wrath, my wrath did end. i was angry with my foe. i told it not, my wrath did grow. and i watered it in fears, night and morning with my tears; and i sunned it with smiles, and with soft deceitful wiles. and it grew both day and night, till it bore an apple bright. and my foe beheld it shine, and he knew that it was mine, and into my garden stole when the night had veiled the pole; in the morning glad i see my foe outstretched beneath the tree. which statement best expresses the theme of the poem? anger is a healthy emotion. trees need nourishment to grow properly. enemies should be avoided at all costs. ignoring anger can cause it to grow.

Explanation:

The poem shows that when the speaker is angry with a friend and expresses it, the anger ends. But when angry with a foe and keeps it inside, the anger grows, like a tree being watered by tears and smiles. So the theme is about how ignoring anger can make it expand.

Answer:

Ignoring anger can cause it to grow.