Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Pomology" by Rachel Hadas is an evocative exploration of apples as symbols for different aspects of life and experience, interwoven with reflections on nature, time, and human interactions. The poem opens with a reference to Sappho, suggesting a connection to ancient wisdom and the timeless nature of the subject matter. The speaker notes, "of the numberless kinds of apples we have two," introducing the central metaphor of the poem.

The first type of apple is described as "ripens early, / striped with sweetness, fragrant and lambent," capturing a sense of early maturity and immediate gratification. These apples, ready by mid-August, fall even on "utterly windless days," suggesting an abundance that comes naturally and effortlessly. The imagery of these apples "falling into high grasses, ditches" and being "bluejay-pecked, squirrel-nibbled, / crawled through by hornets" evokes a vivid picture of nature's cycle of growth and decay, highlighting both the beauty and the impermanence of these fruits.

Hadas skillfully transitions to a scene in a city café, where the speaker observes "apricot jam on the cafe table" and "parents, children / kiss, tug at parting." This juxtaposition of the natural and urban settings underscores the universality of the poem's themes. The autumn haze and the cathedral add layers of sensory detail and a sense of historical continuity, linking the present moment to a larger, enduring context.

The poem then shifts to the second type of apple, which "clings to the branches" and requires effort to pick. The act of picking these apples, where one might find themselves "hoisted and dangling / from the bough," symbolizes the challenges and struggles involved in achieving something valuable. These apples, unlike the earlier ones, resist easy harvest and remain on the tree until "late September," by which time the earlier apples have long fallen.

Describing these later apples as "glossy apples, / hard, dry, and woody / to the tooth," Hadas emphasizes their external appeal but internal toughness. These apples represent a different kind of beauty and satisfaction, one that is harder to attain and perhaps less immediately gratifying but still significant. The image of the tree "loaded with glossy apples" and appearing "untouched, a virgin / beaming sheer ripeness" from the roadside encapsulates the allure and inaccessibility of these fruits, symbolizing desires or goals that remain just out of reach.

Throughout the poem, Hadas employs rich, sensory imagery to draw parallels between the physical characteristics of the apples and broader human experiences. The contrast between the early-falling, easily accessible apples and the later-ripening, harder-to-reach ones serves as a metaphor for different life stages, opportunities, and challenges. The early apples, associated with immediacy and abundance, contrast with the late apples, symbolizing persistence, effort, and the delayed gratification that comes with deeper fulfillment.

"Pomology" thus becomes a meditation on the passage of time, the cycles of nature, and the varying efforts required to achieve different kinds of rewards. Hadas invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of striving and attainment, suggesting that both the easily gained and the hard-won have their own unique values and meanings. Through her deft use of metaphor and imagery, Hadas offers a rich, layered exploration of life’s complexities, using the simple yet profound symbol of apples to illuminate deeper truths.

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