Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Rodney Theodore Smith’s "Neglect" is a poignant meditation on care, loss, and the consequences of inattention, rendered through the metaphor of a neglected apple tree. The poem reflects on the natural cycles of life and death, emphasizing the responsibility humans bear for nurturing what they love. Through rich imagery and a tone imbued with regret, Smith explores how neglect transforms potential into decay, leaving behind only memories and the bittersweet realization of what has been lost.

The poem begins with a sensory image: "the scent of apple boughs smoking / in the woodstove," which immediately sets a reflective tone. This aromatic detail evokes warmth and nostalgia, but it also signals the tree’s transformation into fuel, a remnant of what it once was. The speaker’s memory of cutting down the "Red Delicious" tree carries a sense of shame: "ashamed / that I could not convince its limbs to render fruit." This shame underscores the speaker’s acknowledgment of personal failure, framing the tree’s demise as a consequence of neglect rather than an inevitable end.

Smith uses the tree’s decline as a metaphor for the effects of carelessness on all living things. Neglect "skew[s] the sap?s / passage, blacken[s] leaves, dry[s] the bark and heart," a vivid description that captures the slow, insidious process of decay. The imagery conveys not only the physical deterioration of the tree but also the emotional weight of the speaker’s inaction. The juxtaposition of "sap’s passage" with "dry the bark and heart" highlights the disruption of natural vitality, suggesting that neglect is both a physical and spiritual failure.

The speaker reflects on what could have been done to save the tree: pruning "dead limbs early," watching "each branch with a goshawk?s eye," and applying "medicinal pitch." These actions, left undone, emphasize the effort required to sustain life and the consequences of failing to provide that care. The speaker’s admission of distraction—being "too enchanted / by pear saplings, flowers and the pasture"—further deepens the regret. This moment of self-awareness highlights the human tendency to prioritize novelty or immediate gratification over consistent care, a universal flaw that leads to loss.

The poem’s philosophical core emerges in the line: "death?s inevitable / for any living being unloved, untended." Here, Smith universalizes the tree’s fate, connecting it to all relationships and responsibilities. The assertion that life requires love and attention resonates beyond horticulture, serving as a broader commentary on human interactions and obligations. The speaker’s regret is not only for the tree but for the lesson its death imparts: that neglect erodes not only the physical world but also the bonds that sustain life and meaning.

The poem shifts toward resolution with the image of the applewood burning in the stove: "Splendor ripens a final time in the firebox, a scarlet / harvest." The firebox becomes a space where the tree’s essence—its "scarlet harvest"—is released one last time. This transformation, while final, offers a form of redemption, as the tree’s energy warms the speaker in winter. The phrase "a scarlet harvest" is especially poignant, juxtaposing the richness of life with the inevitability of its end, and framing the tree’s destruction as both loss and legacy.

Smith reflects on the tree’s two decades of contributions—shade, blossoms, tarts, cider, and pollen—while acknowledging their ephemeral nature: "what goes is gone." The bees "dazzled by the pollen" and the tree’s "spare elegance in ice" are moments of beauty now consigned to memory. The closing lines reinforce the poem’s theme of transience: "Smoke is all, through this lesson in winter / regret, I’ve been given to remember." Smoke becomes a metaphor for the intangible remnants of loss, simultaneously a reminder and a lament.

The final image of "Red Delicious apples redder / than a passing cardinal’s crest or cinders" ties the poem’s reflections back to the tree’s vibrant past. The comparison to a cardinal’s crest, a fleeting flash of red against the starkness of winter, emphasizes the vivid yet ephemeral beauty of the apples. By pairing this image with "cinders," Smith underscores the transformation of life into memory, leaving the speaker with only the lingering echoes of what was once vivid and vital.

Structurally, the poem’s free verse form allows for a natural flow of reflection, mirroring the meandering nature of memory and regret. The shifts between past and present, and between sensory imagery and philosophical insight, create a layered narrative that captures both the specificity of the tree’s story and its broader implications.

"Neglect" is ultimately a meditation on the fragility of life and the responsibility of care. Through the metaphor of a tree’s decline and its final transformation into firewood, Smith reflects on the consequences of inattention and the enduring weight of regret. The poem serves as both a lament and a reminder, urging readers to recognize the importance of tending to what they value before it is too late. Through its vivid imagery and heartfelt tone, "Neglect" speaks to the universal human experience of loss and the hard-earned wisdom that often follows.

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