Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Old Apple Trees" is a poem by William DeWitt Snodgrass, first published in his collection "Heart's Needle" in 1959. The poem explores themes of memory, aging, and the impermanence of life.

Explanation:

The poem begins with the speaker recalling his childhood and the old apple trees in the orchard, which were always laden with fruit. However, as the speaker grew older and returned to the orchard, he found that the trees have grown old and are no longer producing fruit. The speaker then reflects on the impermanence of life and how everything, including people and trees, must eventually age and die.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem is written in free verse, with no consistent meter or rhyme scheme.
• Imagery: The imagery of the old apple trees is used throughout the poem to symbolize aging and the passage of time.
• Metaphor: The apple trees are also used as a metaphor for people, representing the inevitability of aging and death.
• Repetition: The repeated phrase "I remember" is used to emphasize the importance of memory in the poem.

Conclusion:

"Old Apple Trees" is a poignant meditation on aging and the passage of time, using the metaphor of an old orchard to explore the impermanence of life. Through its vivid imagery and use of metaphor, the poem encourages readers to reflect on their own mortality and the importance of cherishing memories while we can.

Poem Snippet:

"Last time I walked there,

the trees were leaning,

rotten, wanting the saw, yet

still alive, their crotches

plugging up with new growth."

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