'After Apple Picking' by Robert Frost
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My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a tree
Toward heaven still.
And there's a barrel that I didn't fill
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn't pick upon some bough.
But I am done with apple-picking now.
Essence of winter sleep is on the night,
The scent of apples; I am drowsing off.
I cannot shake the shimmer from my sight
I got from looking through a pane of glass
I skimmed this morning from the water-trough,
And held against the world of hoary grass.
It melted, and I let it fall and break.
But I was well
Upon my way to sleep before it fell,
And I could tell
What form my dreaming was about to take.
Magnified apples appear and reappear,
Stem end and blossom end,
And every fleck of russet showing clear.
My instep arch not only keeps the ache,
It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round.
And I keep hearing from the cellar-bin
That rumbling sound
Of load on load of apples coming in.
For I have had too much
Of apple-picking; I am overtired
Of the great harvest I myself desired.
There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch,
Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall,
For all
That struck the earth,
No matter if not bruised, or spiked with stubble,
Went surely to the cider-apple heap
As of no worth.
One can see what will trouble
This sleep of mine, whatever sleep it is.
Were he not gone,
The woodchuck could say whether it's like his
Long sleep, as I describe its coming on,
Or just some human sleep.
Editor 1 Interpretation
After Apple Picking: A Poem that Touches the Soul
Robert Frost's "After Apple Picking" is a poem that transcends time and culture. It is a masterpiece that speaks to the deepest longings and fears of the human experience. This poem has captured the hearts and minds of readers for over a century and continues to inspire new interpretations and insights. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbols, and imagery used in the poem and how they contribute to its overall meaning.
Overview of the Poem
"After Apple Picking" is a poem about a man who has just finished picking apples in his orchard. He is tired and drowsy from the day's work, and as he drifts off to sleep, he reflects on his life and the choices he has made. The poem is written in Frost's signature style of simple language and natural imagery, but beneath the surface, it is a deeply philosophical work that explores the themes of mortality, regret, and the search for meaning in life.
Themes
Mortality
One of the main themes of "After Apple Picking" is mortality. Throughout the poem, we see the speaker grappling with his own mortality and the inevitability of death. The apples, which are symbols of life and vitality, also represent the fleeting nature of existence. The speaker reflects on the fact that he has "had too much / Of apple-picking: I am overtired / Of the great harvest I myself desired." He is exhausted from his labors, but he is also tired of the cycle of life and death that he sees all around him.
Regret
Another theme that is present in the poem is regret. The speaker reflects on the choices he has made in his life and wonders if he has made the right decisions. He says, "I am overtired / Of the great harvest I myself desired. / There were ten thousand fruit to touch, / Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall." The speaker is overwhelmed by the abundance of life and feels like he has missed out on something important.
The Search for Meaning
Finally, "After Apple Picking" is a poem that explores the search for meaning in life. The speaker is tired and drowsy, and as he drifts off to sleep, he wonders if he has accomplished anything of significance. He says, "I cannot rub the strangeness from my sight / I got from looking through a pane of glass / I skimmed this morning from the drinking trough / And held against the world of hoary grass." The speaker is searching for something that will give his life meaning and purpose.
Symbols
Apples
The apples in "After Apple Picking" are a powerful symbol that represents life, vitality, and the fleeting nature of existence. The speaker reflects on the apples that he has picked and wonders if he has wasted his life chasing after something that is ultimately temporary. The apples also symbolize the choices that we make in life and the paths that we choose to follow.
Ladder
The ladder in the poem represents the journey of life and the choices that we make along the way. The speaker says, "My ladder's sticking through a tree / Toward heaven still." The ladder is a symbol of the speaker's desire to reach for something greater than himself, but it also represents the uncertainty and risk involved in taking that journey.
Sleep
Finally, sleep is a symbol that represents death and the end of the journey. The speaker is tired and drowsy, and as he drifts off to sleep, he reflects on the choices he has made in his life. Sleep is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we must make the most of the time that we have.
Imagery
Natural Imagery
One of the defining features of "After Apple Picking" is its use of natural imagery. Frost uses simple language and natural imagery to create a sense of intimacy and familiarity with the reader. The poem is filled with images of apples, trees, and grass, which create a vivid and sensory experience for the reader.
Visual Imagery
In addition to natural imagery, "After Apple Picking" also employs visual imagery to create a sense of mood and atmosphere. The speaker describes the world around him in vivid detail, using phrases like "hoary grass," "frozen ground," and "stubble plains." These images create a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, which contribute to the overall tone of the poem.
Dream Imagery
Finally, "After Apple Picking" also uses dream imagery to create a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. The speaker is tired and drowsy, and as he drifts off to sleep, his thoughts become muddled and confused. He says, "I cannot rub the strangeness from my sight," which suggests that the speaker is experiencing something that is beyond his comprehension.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "After Apple Picking" is a poem that touches the soul. It speaks to the deepest longings and fears of the human experience, exploring themes of mortality, regret, and the search for meaning in life. The poem's symbols and imagery create a vivid and sensory experience for the reader, while its simple language and natural imagery create a sense of intimacy and familiarity. Frost's signature style of writing is on full display in this masterpiece, and it continues to inspire new interpretations and insights over a century after it was first written.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
After Apple Picking: A Masterpiece of Robert Frost
Robert Frost is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and his poem "After Apple Picking" is a masterpiece that has been studied and analyzed by scholars and poetry enthusiasts alike. The poem is a reflection on the end of the apple-picking season, and the speaker's thoughts and feelings as he looks back on the work he has done.
The poem is written in the first person, and the speaker is a tired apple picker who is reflecting on his day's work. The poem is divided into two parts, with the first part describing the speaker's physical exhaustion and the second part exploring his deeper thoughts and emotions.
The poem begins with the speaker describing his physical exhaustion after a long day of apple picking. He says, "My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a tree / Toward heaven still, / And there's a barrel that I didn't fill / Beside it, and there may be two or three / Apples I didn't pick upon some bough." The speaker is tired and has not been able to pick all the apples from the tree. He is also aware that the season is coming to an end, and there may not be enough time to pick all the apples before winter sets in.
The speaker then goes on to describe his physical exhaustion in more detail. He says, "I am overtired / Of the great harvest I myself desired." The speaker is tired not only from the physical labor of apple picking but also from the mental strain of wanting to have a successful harvest. He has worked hard to pick as many apples as possible, but he is still not satisfied with the results.
In the second part of the poem, the speaker's thoughts and emotions become more introspective. He begins to reflect on his life and the choices he has made. He says, "For I have had too much / Of apple-picking: I am overtired / Of the great harvest I myself desired." The speaker is tired not only from the physical labor of apple picking but also from the mental strain of wanting to have a successful harvest. He has worked hard to pick as many apples as possible, but he is still not satisfied with the results.
The speaker then goes on to describe his dreams and how they are influenced by his work. He says, "I cannot rub the strangeness from my sight / I got from looking through a pane of glass / I skimmed this morning from the drinking trough / And held against the world of hoary grass." The speaker is describing a dream he had where he saw the world through a pane of glass. This dream is a metaphor for his desire to see the world in a different way, to see it as something new and strange.
The speaker then goes on to describe another dream he had. He says, "Magnified apples appear and disappear, / Stem end and blossom end, / And every fleck of russet showing clear." This dream is a metaphor for the speaker's desire to see the world in a different way, to see it as something new and strange.
The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on his life and the choices he has made. He says, "And I keep hearing from the cellar bin / The rumbling sound / Of load on load of apples coming in. / For I have had too much / Of apple-picking: I am overtired / Of the great harvest I myself desired." The speaker is tired of the work he has done, but he is also aware that he has accomplished something. He has picked many apples, and they are now stored in the cellar. The rumbling sound of the apples is a reminder of his hard work and the success he has achieved.
In conclusion, "After Apple Picking" is a masterpiece of Robert Frost that explores the themes of exhaustion, desire, and reflection. The poem is a reflection on the end of the apple-picking season, and the speaker's thoughts and feelings as he looks back on the work he has done. The poem is divided into two parts, with the first part describing the speaker's physical exhaustion and the second part exploring his deeper thoughts and emotions. The poem is a powerful reminder of the importance of hard work and the satisfaction that comes from achieving one's goals.
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