Guy Down The Street

I am somehow reminded of beautiful Prague, even though it has been almost a couple of years since I was last there.  But today, I am thinking not of the city beautiful, but of a tiger on its metro (or more appropriately, a tyger).

Prague metro was built in late 70s (1st line) and early 80s (2nd and 3rd lines).  During that time, it was still a different world even if we limit ourselves to the economic structure.  Today it is operated by Dopravní podnik hlavního města Prahy, which is a public company, and one can wonder how that affects its decision making.

The decision we are talking about is this: when you are running a metro, do you put a lucrative commercial on the most visible spot, or do you put William Blake, who refuses to pay you a single Czech Koruna (Kč) for highlighting his poem, but might give a moment of peace to the travelers?

I don’t know the answer, I can only comment upon what a beautiful moment I felt in Prague that blissful day.

Here is the poem again, since the picture did not capture it as well as it should have.

Tiger Tiger. burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye.
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat.
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp.
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears
And watered heaven with their tears:
Did he smile His work to see?
Did he who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger Tiger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

The Tiger
William Blake