The Fiery Image

When a writer speaks exclusively through the veil of his intense imagination the reader gets an image we feel to have no earthly source- the fiery image.

Does that image of the 'forests of the night' speak to you? What is it for you? What feelings does it unveil for you? Do you perhaps think of the dark side of the human soul when you read these verses? Do the forests represent the wild landscape of our imagination under the influence of this powerful beast?

Many interpretations of this ardent poem by William Blake were put forth since it was written in 1794 as part of his "Songs of Experience" collection. We shall not delve into deciphering Blake's point in this poem today. Instead, we shall just aim at noticing the use of the mystery which transfers the reality of the world onto the page through the keen eye of the writer's imagination, whether it is in poem or in prose.

The author commands the imagery. We are all empowered at the moment when our imagination takes us above our mundane daily minds so that we come up with an image that goes right to the exact core of what we have to say. We surpass the mundane in ourselves.

The great writer has learned how he can put himself and his skills in the possession of the imagination. However, this skill can be nurtured with practice and it is available to all of us, with a little bit of disciplined effort. Just try it!