The Garden of Love

This poem by William Blake expresses what religion does to human beings. I have seen religion cause so much division, so much unnecessary unhappiness and negativity in humans toward themselves, and towards other people who do not share their beliefs.

Garden of Love
by William Blake - 1794

I went to the Garden of Love,
And saw what I never had seen,
A Chapel was built in the midst,
Where I used to play on the green.

And the gates of this Chapel were shut,
And “Thou shalt not” writ over the door.
So I turn’d to the Garden of Love,
That so many sweet flowers bore.

And I saw that was filled with graves,
And tombstones where flowers should be,
And Priests in black gowns, were walking their rounds,
And binding with briars, my hopes and desires.