Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

“An Apple Gathering” is a poem by Christina Georgina Rossetti, published in 1862 in her collection, Goblin Market and Other Poems. The poem speaks to the experience of autumn and the gathering of apples as a symbol of youth and vitality.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a group of people, perhaps a family or friends, out in an apple orchard picking apples. The speaker marvels at the abundance of fruit hanging from the trees, and notes that it is a good year for apples. The scene is idyllic, with the apples ripe and glowing, and the weather warm and pleasant.

However, as the poem progresses, the tone shifts slightly. The speaker reflects on the idea that the apple is a symbol of youth and vitality, and notes that the apples will not last forever. The apples, like youth, are fleeting, and will eventually wither and rot away. The speaker laments this fact, but also notes that the cycle of life and death is natural and necessary.

In terms of form, the poem is written in six quatrains, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB. This gives the poem a sing-song quality that reinforces the idea of the apples as a symbol of youth and vitality. The language is simple and straightforward, but also poetic and evocative. The use of repetition, such as in the repeated lines “For all / Fruit must fall,” adds to the overall sense of melancholy and acceptance.

Overall, “An Apple Gathering” is a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of youth and life, as symbolized by the abundance of apples in an autumn orchard. The poem’s language and form work together to create a sense of nostalgia and reflection, as the speaker contemplates the passing of time and the inevitability of change.

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