PUNCHI  +  962572 Thu, 05 Nov 09 04:23 PM would paraphrase the following poem from william Blake: 'Love seeketh not itself to please, Nor for itself hath any care, But for another gives its ease, And builds a heaven in hell's despair.' So sung a little clod of clay, Trodden with the cattle's feet, But a pebble of the brook Warbled out these metres meet: 'Love seeketh only Self to please, To bind another to its delight, Joys in another's loss of ease, And builds a hell in heaven's despite.' THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION PUNCHI Joined on Sat, Oct 31 2009 New Member 07 Writing, Poetry

	Doctor D  +  967854 Wed, 11 Nov 09 12:39 AM The poem contrasts two points of view (represented by the unhappy clod of clay and the happy pebble in the brook).  The first one believes in a love that is selfless.  Because it cares only for the one it loves, this love creates an oasis (heaven) in the midst of despair (hell).  The second character believes in a love that is selfish.  Because it cares only for itself, it creates a hell in the midst of a heavenly world. This is a fairly simple statement of the poem's meaning.  There's more beneath the surface of the poem, especially in the choice of the two images of the clod and the pebble. Doctor D Joined on Tue, Nov 10 2009 Junior Member 84 Writing, Poetry