A head and neck portrait of the Greek epic poet Homer, his head turned slightly to the right, surrounded by a wreath of leaves. Ferns also frame the edges of the piece. A mouse to the left is carrying a spear, and a frog to the right is holding onto the wreath, as suggested by the poem 'Batrachomyomachia' (The Battle of Frogs and Mice). 'Batrachomyomachia' was a later parody of Homer's work by an unknown author. The piece is one of 18 heads of poets made for Blake's patron: William Hayley. The series was commissioned for the library of his house at Felpham, Sussex, and follows the ancient Roman tradition of decorative literary heads.