"The Garden of Love"

"The Garden of Love" is a poem by William Blake, featured in his collection "Songs of Experience." It portrays the contrast between innocence and experience, symbolizing lost youthful joy and the constraints of societal norms. The speaker reflects on a garden, once vibrant and full of life, now overshadowed by structures like a church and a graveyard, representing oppression and unfulfilled desires. The poem critiques organized religion and societal expectations that stifle human emotions and love, highlighting the tension between spiritual and earthly pleasures. Ultimately, it underscores the loss of innocence in the face of societal pressures.