Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Solomon Ibn Gabirol's "Apple: 2" is a vivid and multifaceted exploration of the apple as a symbol of desire, beauty, and the complexities of human experience. The poem weaves together imagery of precious stones, shifting colors, and the apple’s vulnerability, creating a rich metaphor that touches on themes of purity, temptation, and the passage from innocence to experience.

The poem begins with an invitation to "Take a bite from that / shimmering figure," immediately drawing the reader into an act of consumption, both literal and metaphorical. The apple is described with a series of comparisons to precious stones: "like emerald here, / and there like beryl, / or ruby-like now, / and now like crystal." These descriptions emphasize the apple's beauty and its ever-changing nature, suggesting that it is something rare and valuable, as well as elusive. The use of various gemstones to describe the apple's appearance highlights its multifaceted qualities, suggesting that it embodies different aspects of beauty and allure, depending on how it is viewed.

The imagery of the apple's changing "aspect"—"as though it were ill / at first with a flush / and then with a pallor"—introduces a sense of fragility and vulnerability. This shift from vibrant color to paleness evokes the idea of the apple as a living entity, subject to the same conditions of health and sickness as a human being. This anthropomorphism adds depth to the apple's symbolism, suggesting that it is not just an object of beauty, but also one that is susceptible to change, decay, and the passage of time.

The apple is then compared to "a scroll of silver / encased in gold," adding another layer of metaphor. This image suggests that the apple contains something valuable within, hidden beneath its exterior. The idea of the apple as a scroll—something that can be unrolled and read—implies that it holds knowledge or a message, perhaps one that is revealed only to those who dare to partake of it. This comparison also hints at the biblical symbolism of the apple as the fruit of knowledge, tying it to themes of wisdom and the consequences of gaining insight.

The next lines introduce a more human, almost sensual element: "a virgin who’d never / known a lover, / and yet whose breasts / were ready to suckle." This comparison casts the apple as a figure of innocence and purity, yet also one that is ripe and ready to fulfill its natural role. The juxtaposition of virginity with the readiness to nurture introduces a tension between innocence and experience, a central theme in many works that explore the nature of desire and temptation.

The poem takes a dramatic turn with the arrival of men "with their swords and desire / to strike at its cord." This violent imagery suggests an act of force or conquest, as the men seek to sever the apple from its source and claim it for themselves. The apple "falls to the grass / and lands at their feet," symbolizing its submission or surrender. The men’s subsequent actions—bending to a knee, taking the apple in hand, and raising it to their lips to eat—mirror the ritual of consuming something sacred or revered. The act of eating the apple becomes a moment of transformation, where the men partake of its essence, blending the physical act with a deeper, perhaps spiritual, experience.

"Apple: 2" by Ibn Gabirol is a richly textured poem that explores the apple as a symbol of beauty, desire, and the transition from innocence to experience. Through its vivid imagery and layered metaphors, the poem invites the reader to consider the complexities of human desire, the value of what is sought, and the consequences of taking what is desired. The apple, in its shimmering, ever-changing form, becomes a powerful emblem of the temptations and transformations that define the human experience, encapsulating both the allure and the inevitable loss that accompany the pursuit of beauty and knowledge.

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