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Joe's Cafe, 24/7 pit stop for ESL learners and teachers | December 2007
Egg's off, bacon's off, bread's off, tea's off. English is on though.
The Sick RoseO 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. William Blake 1757-1827 – So the question is: What is “the invisible worm that flies in the night”? Joe | Wednesday, December 12th, 2007 | Filed under Poetry
7 Responses to “The Sick Rose”Leave a Comment |  Personal blog of Josef Essberger, English Club founder
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15th February 2008 at 10:55 am
It is AUTUMN and its wind. yes or no?
2nd May 2008 at 4:18 pm
I’m listening to the sound of a flute
Everyday at Subway Station.
It inspires in me both joy and sorrow at the same time
Today he is not there
I became weary and disheartened.
16th November 2008 at 4:09 pm
We find here an allusion to male-female relationship. She is a rose, and has “the bed of crimson joy”. And he is “the invisible worm”, flying “in the night”. It’s interesting that he, “the worm”, destroys the “sick” rose’s life, and his love is “dark secret”. Our English Literature lecturer told us about this poem, and we were really surprised that the poem alluded to defloration…
22nd March 2009 at 3:28 pm
“We are all worms, but I do believe that I am a glow worm”
Winston Churchill
7th April 2009 at 8:17 am
The invisible worm that flies in the night. I think
this could mean that he attack his victims at night
going around almost stalking them and talking them
back to…..
The howling storm is the act of sex.
The women howling from being…..
The bed of crimson joy.Is mean The actual bed where of the virgin has of blood.
Good Luck
Linda K (Hollywood)
20th June 2009 at 12:20 am
Those English literature professors always have their mind in the gutter… William Blake is simply talking about blight that damages his beautiful roses:
Botrytis infections (a type of blight) are favored by cool, rainy spring and summer weather usually around 15C (60F). Gray mold can be particularly damaging when rainy, drizzly weather continues over several days.
2nd August 2009 at 3:10 am
This my fav poem ever!!