William Blake

I found most of Blake's poems very interesting, though often difficult to understand; however the difficulty seems to become the best and worst thing about the poetry. I find that that is the case with most poets. It is almost impossible to know exactly what the writer wanted to convey in their work. Therefore, it is up to the reader to find meaning and interpret the work in their own way. For that reason, I'm not sure my views on Blake's work will be similar to what others were thinking as they read.
Though I liked many of Blake's poems, there were a few that I was particularly fond of reading. The first poem I want to mention is "The Fly." While this poem is short and the meaning may seem hidden at first, re-reading this passage made Blake's intentions all the more obvious. In this poem, Blake challenges the reader to literally put themselves in the position of a mere fly. He creates this challenge when he says, "Am not I/A fly life thee?/Or art not thou/A man like me?" (87). Why would Blake make such a silly connection between the human race and a fly? I think that Blake was attempting to prove that all things in life are meant to be the way that they are and that no one person or thing is more significant than anyone or anything else. I think Blake wanted to convey that it is important to constantly view the world from the perspective of others rather than thinking of ourselves. Blake establishes this idea when he describes the fly as going along happily in his life until "...some blind hand/Shall brush my wing" (87). Blake proves that while it is often difficult to remember that the world does not revolve around us, we must try to be more considerate. I think Blake makes his point clearly by using something as seemingly useless as a fly to demonstrate the importance of recognizing how our actions affect others.
I also thought that "Echoing Green" was a beautiful poem. I love the way that Blake connected images of the passage of time in a day to the passage of time in the life cycle. In the first stanza, he begins by describing the early morning hours when he says:

"The Sun does arise,
And make happy the skies.
The merry bells ring
To welcome the Spring." (78-79)

While Blake at first seems to be describing the dawn of the day and the cheer of morning and spring, he is also making reference to new life. He uses images of morning and spring-time to portray the beginning of a person's life; a time when everything is new and fresh.
He continues with the passage of time in the second stanza. It is in this part of the poem that Blake focuses on the nostalgia that the old man feels as the day passes and he thinks upon past times in his own life:

"Sitting under the old oak...
Such such were the joys
When we all girls & boys,
In our youth time were seen,
On the Ecchoing Green." (79)

It seems that Blake uses the image of the old oak tree to create a stronger connection between the old man and the wisdom that he's gained over the course of his life. In the same way, it takes many years for an oak tree to grow. Blake strengthens his imagery with the passage of time as the man remembers when he was a child playing in the green field. The old many hasn't forgotten his youth. He knows that it will not be long before the children he watches will be old as well. Blake establishes a bond between the children and elderly comparing a similar time in their lives.
As Blake closes the poem in the third stanza, he again uses images associated with time of day to link time that passes during the life cycle. He says, "The sun does descend,/And our sports have an end" (79) to show that the day light is passing and evening is approaching. When it starts to get dark outside, children must go home to their families. Blake then connects the passing of time in the day with the passing of time in one's life: "Like birds in their nest,/Are ready for rest" (79). Again, Blake is using the method of comparison to draw a connection between evening time and growing old. Just as a bird goes home to rest, so man will eventually get old and pass away. Blake further solidifies this comparison when he no longer uses the phrase "ecchoing green," but rather says that "and sport no more seen,/On the darkening Green" (79). This language creates a feeling of sadness because the day, and cycle of life have ended. Just as the sun sets, people pass on; the day cannot last forever and neither can man.
The reality of this poem is what made it unique and interesting to me. While this poem begins with a very happy tone and ends with a tone of somber melancholy, the point is very realistic. Birth is something to be celebrated and youth is certainly something to be remembered. At the same time, we cannot stop the aging process and eventually we will all die. The dawn of day passes into the dusk of night and people will change and grow from babies into adulthood and eventually they will die.
I do not think it was Blake's intention to have a negative view on aging and death; in fact, I think he meant just the opposite. Blake seemed to encourage the celebration of life as well as the acceptance of death. I think also that using the word "ecchoing" in the title as well as throughout the poem really ties everything together. The cycle of life is like an echo--it repeats itself over and over again.