The poem
Ah Sun-flower! weary of time. Who countest the steps of the Sun; Seeking after that sweet golden clime Where the travellers journey is done.
Where the Youth pined away with desire, And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow: Arise from their graves and aspire. Where my Sun-flower wishes to go.
I once did a paper about sunflowers, and was amazed to learn that there is more to the flower than most know! Blake must have been an astute observer, for the sunflower does follow the sun (most plants do). Blake gently asked the reader to be like the sunflower and look in the direction of the blessed rest. Blake also wrote this poem as part of two other poems: "My Pretty Rose Tree" and "The Lilly". As these poems…
Read the whole commentI once did a paper about sunflowers, and was amazed to learn that there is more to the flower than most know! Blake must have been an astute observer, for the sunflower does follow the sun (most plants do). Blake gently asked the reader to be like the sunflower and look in the direction of the blessed rest.
Blake also wrote this poem as part of two other poems: "My Pretty Rose Tree" and "The Lilly". As these poems are part of the Songs of Experience, there are deeper meanings to be gartered.
Note the last line of this poem--"where my sunflower wishes to go". Blake makes a sharp distinction by getting personal: MY. At this point the sunflower is more; it represents his spirit or his soul. He longs for the "sweet golden clime where the traveller's journey is done". He reinforces the idea of a resurrection from the grave and that those souls will go to a better place.