Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "The Apple Trees at Olema" by Robert Hass, the poet captures a delicate moment of connection and divergence between two people as they walk through a coastal woodland and meadow. They stumble upon two old, neglected apple trees, which, despite their seemingly decayed state, are bursting with new leaves and wild blossoms. This image of nature’s resilience and beauty sets the stage for the exploration of the characters' internal landscapes and their reactions to the scene before them.

The apple trees, covered in thick moss and bearing the signs of age and neglect, yet still blooming vigorously, serve as a powerful metaphor for renewal and the persistence of life. The vivid description of "a green fire of small new leaves" flickering even on the deadest branches contrasts sharply with the rotten wood, symbolizing hope and vitality amidst decay. The meadow surrounding the trees, dotted with various flowers including blue-eyes, poppies, and an intricately patterned leaf-green flower, enhances the sense of nature's intricate beauty and diversity.

As they walk, the couple engages in a playful yet telling exchange about the name of a flower: he calls it a trout lily, and she calls it adder's-tongue. This interaction highlights their differing perspectives and perhaps a deeper disconnect. She is moved by the stark beauty of the apple blossoms, describing them as "raw, white, backlit flaring," which evokes a visceral, almost painful reaction in her. In contrast, he feels a sense of exultation, as if the trees’ wildness and persistence validate something within him, and he looks to her for affirmation.

The poem then shifts to their separate internal experiences. For him, the apple trees confirm a feeling, but he becomes disconnected from them and from her as her perception shifts from initial repulsion to a tender acceptance of the trees. This divergence in their emotional responses underscores the complexities of their relationship and the individual nature of perception and experience.

The metaphor of the tide, "going out or coming in, at sunset," aptly captures the fluctuating nature of their connection. Just as the tide’s movement is a natural and inevitable process, so too are the ebbs and flows of their relationship. The lesser finch, a small bird that catches their attention and draws them closer together, serves as a brief, unifying moment of shared admiration. This fleeting connection mirrors the way their relationship fluctuates between moments of intimacy and isolation.

The poem concludes with a poignant image of a small boy wandering the corridors of a hotel, holding onto the number of his room as if it were the key to his security and belonging. This image resonates with the themes of searching and longing for connection and place. Just as the boy navigates a world of strangers, the couple navigates their relationship and the natural world, seeking moments of understanding and unity amidst their individual experiences.

"The Apple Trees at Olema" beautifully encapsulates the complexities of human relationships and the ways in which nature reflects and influences our inner lives. Through rich imagery and nuanced emotion, Hass explores the interplay between connection and solitude, renewal and decay, and the enduring search for meaning and belonging.

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