Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HARVEST APPLES, by RAY CLARKE ROSE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HARVEST APPLES, by                    
First Line: Out in the orchard, years ago
Last Line: "you 'll find a ""honey-core,"" I guess."
Subject(s): Apple Trees; Apples; Fruit; Trees


Out in the orchard, years ago,
There lived an ancient harvest tree,
And golden apples used to grow
To mellow ripeness there for me.
The tree was low; its drooping limbs
Hung like an arbor's draperies,
And green leaves, crooning balmy hymns,
Lured to its depths of shady ease.

In May the ancient tree was white
With tender blooms, and sight and sense
Drunk deep of promise of delight
In summer's juicy opulence.
And as the lolling days grew warm
The young fruit of seductive green
Found refuge in my grateful form,
And worked there, deadly and unseen.

But all the trials were forgot,
When, bursting full of lusciousness,
The golden apples came, with not
The faintest menace of distress.
The hornets thronged their broken parts,
The bluejays pecked them on the tree;
But in each apple's heart of hearts
A "honey-core" remained for me.

ENVOY

Good friend, life's promise oft is white,
The unripe fruit may cause distress;
But harvest-time will make it right—
You 'll find a "honey-core," I guess.





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