Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Frost's poem "Putting in the Seed" explores the intimate connection between the labor of planting seeds and the deeper, almost spiritual fulfillment that comes with tending to the earth. The poem is rich with imagery and emotion, intertwining themes of love, life, and the cyclical nature of growth.

The poem begins with a direct address, “You come to fetch me from my work to-night / When supper's on the table, and we'll see / If I can leave off burying the white / Soft petals fallen from the apple tree.” These lines set a domestic scene where the speaker is called away from his labor in the garden for supper. The act of “burying the white / Soft petals” immediately invokes a sense of tenderness and care. The fallen petals, remnants of a past bloom, are being buried, suggesting a symbolic gesture of renewal and preparation for new growth.

The next lines, “(Soft petals, yes, but not so barren quite, / Mingled with these, smooth bean and wrinkled pea;)” emphasize that these petals are not alone. They are mingled with seeds of beans and peas, which are smooth and wrinkled, representing the potential for new life. This mingling suggests a blending of the past (the petals) with the future (the seeds), illustrating the natural cycle of life and growth.

The poem continues, “And go along with you ere you lose sight / Of what you came for and become like me, / Slave to a springtime passion for the earth.” Here, the speaker acknowledges the pull of domestic life, represented by the call to supper, while also expressing a profound attachment to the earth. The term “slave to a springtime passion” conveys the deep, almost obsessive love the speaker has for planting and nurturing growth. It suggests that this passion for the earth can be consuming, but also immensely rewarding.

In the next stanza, the speaker describes how “Love burns through the Putting in the Seed / On through the watching for that early birth / When, just as the soil tarnishes with weed, / The sturdy seedling with arched body comes / Shouldering its way and shedding the earth crumbs.” This imagery captures the anticipation and excitement of planting seeds and watching them grow. The phrase “Love burns” implies a powerful, almost consuming force that drives the speaker’s actions. The “Putting in the Seed” is not just a physical act but a deeply emotional and passionate endeavor.

The description of the seedling “with arched body” that “comes / Shouldering its way and shedding the earth crumbs” vividly portrays the struggle and triumph of new life emerging from the soil. The seedling’s arched body suggests a sense of strength and determination, while the act of “shouldering its way” emphasizes the effort required to break through the earth. The image of “shedding the earth crumbs” evokes a sense of liberation and growth, as the seedling emerges from its dark, confined space into the light.

Through its rich imagery and emotional depth, "Putting in the Seed" captures the profound connection between human labor and the natural world. Frost’s portrayal of planting as an act of love and passion reflects the deep satisfaction and fulfillment that comes from nurturing life and being part of the cycle of growth. The poem speaks to the universal human experience of finding meaning and joy in simple, essential acts that connect us to the earth and to the rhythms of nature.

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