15 After Apple After Apple After Apple After Apple Picking Picking Picking Picking

By Robert Frost

Stanza

Stanza 1:1:1:1:

My long twoMy long twoMy long twoMy long two----pointed ladders sticking through a treepointed ladders sticking through a treepointed ladders sticking through a treepointed ladders sticking through a tree Towards heaven still,Towards heaven still,Towards heaven still,Towards heaven still,

And there’s barrel that I didAnd there’s barrel that I didAnd there’s barrel that I didAnd there’s barrel that I didn’t filln’t filln’t fill n’t fill Beside it, and thee may be two or threeBeside it, and thee may be two or threeBeside it, and thee may be two or threeBeside it, and thee may be two or three Apples I didn’t pick upon some boughApples I didn’t pick upon some boughApples I didn’t pick upon some boughApples I didn’t pick upon some bough But I am done with appleBut I am done with appleBut I am done with appleBut I am done with apple----picking now.picking now.picking now. picking now.

Meanings of difficult words:

Barrel---7,4 ل( 8ﮍ/.

Reference:

These lines have been taken form the poem “After apple picki“After apple picki“After apple picki“After apple picking”ng”ng”ng” written by “Robert Frost”.“Robert Frost”. “Robert Frost”.“Robert Frost”.

Context:

In this poem, the poet compares the process of apple picking with the tiring work of this world. Perhaps, we all are busy in our works and are trying hard to survive in this world. But, even then we have to accept the inevitable death. We have no alternative but to leave everything aside for this reality.

Explanation:

In these lines, the poet introduces himself as an apple picker. He has been working in his apple orchard for a long time. He is filling barrels after barrels. He has picked a lot of apple but many are still to be picked. But now he is feeling tired and wants to have some rest. Actually, the poet wants to say that when man becomes tired then he wants to take some rest, leaving behind all his works.

Stan

Stanza 2:za 2:za 2:za 2:

Essence of winter sleep is on the night,Essence of winter sleep is on the night,Essence of winter sleep is on the night,Essence of winter sleep is on the night, The scent of apples: I am drowsing off.The scent of apples: I am drowsing off.The scent of apples: I am drowsing off.The scent of apples: I am drowsing off. I cannot rub the strangeness from my sightI cannot rub the strangeness from my sightI cannot rub the strangeness from my sightI cannot rub the strangeness from my sight I got from looking through a pane of glass I got from looking through a pane of glass I got from looking through a pane of glass I got from looking through a pane of glass

I skimmed this morning from the drinking trough I skimmed this morning from the drinking trough I skimmed this morning from the drinking trough I skimmed this morning from the drinking trough And I held against the worlAnd I held against the worlAnd I held against the worlAnd I held against the world of hoary grassd of hoary grassd of hoary grassd of hoary grass It melted, and I let it fall and break.It melted, and I let it fall and break.It melted, and I let it fall and break.It melted, and I let it fall and break.

But I was wellBut I was wellBut I was wellBut I was well

Upon my way to sleep before it fell,Upon my way to sleep before it fell,Upon my way to sleep before it fell,Upon my way to sleep before it fell, And I could tellAnd I could tellAnd I could tellAnd I could tell

Meanings of difficult words:

Essence---) 8ٔﮨ / ﮯ%) 5(،>=*, drowsing off--- وا, pane---ہ= ( (ﮍ (, skim-- -ﮦ ppppppﭨ, trough---7,4 ( ( ﮦر ﮯ ﮯ( ںور, hoary---( Hر %.

Reference to the Context:

Same as above.

Explanation:

In these lines, the poet gives a pictorial description of the garden where he is working. He says that smell of apples creates such an effect on him that he starts dozing. Although, he has not completed his work, yet he cannot escape from the captivating smell of apples. There was a long open box of drinking water for animals in the garden. The water in it had a frozen ice. The poet removed a sheet of ice from it in the morning and held it before him. Through this sheet of ice he looked at the white snow covered grass. The poet was sleepy as the sheet of ice was falling form his hands.

Stanza 3:

What from my dreaming was about to take What from my dreaming was about to take What from my dreaming was about to take What from my dreaming was about to take Magnified apples appear and disappear,Magnified apples appear and disappear,Magnified apples appear and disappear,Magnified apples appear and disappear, Stem end and blossom end,Stem end and blossom end,Stem end and blossom end,Stem end and blossom end,

And every fleck of russet showing clear.And every fleck of russet showing clear.And every fleck of russet showing clear.And every fleck of russet showing clear. My instep arch My instep arch My instep arch My instep arch not only keeps the arch;not only keeps the arch;not only keeps the arch;not only keeps the arch; It keeps the pressure of ladderIt keeps the pressure of ladderIt keeps the pressure of ladderIt keeps the pressure of ladder----roundroundround round I feel the ladder sway asI feel the ladder sway asI feel the ladder sway asI feel the ladder sway as the boughs bend.the boughs bend.the boughs bend.the boughs bend. And I keep hearing from the cellar binAnd I keep hearing from the cellar binAnd I keep hearing from the cellar binAnd I keep hearing from the cellar bin The rumbling soundThe rumbling soundThe rumbling soundThe rumbling sound

Of load on load of apples coming in.Of load on load of apples coming in.Of load on load of apples coming in.Of load on load of apples coming in.

Meanings of difficult words:

Magnified---ۓﮨ ےﮍ4 ﮟ )ٔ%, blossom end---ﮟﮨ ﮯJ/ ل ںﮩ ﮯTV ﮯ( ںJ*رد, fleck--- ہ>هدﭨ , russet---Hر نؤا4 خ%, instep---ہTV ( ر ا ( ںؤ, sway---/ , cellar--- ﮦ*ذ با= ﮦ[( ﮟز ز !او ﮯ(, bin---رﭩ%, rumbling sound---زاو1 ( ﮯاﮍ (ﮍ/ ﮯ( ) 5(

Reference to the Context:

Same as above.

Explanation:

Here in these lines, the poet describes his dreams while he is half sleep. The apples appear before him in large size and disappear. The trees, from the roots up to the branches giving flowers of the fruit, appear. The reddish brown colour of apples becomes clearly visible to the poet. Still

have started shaking. The dream of the poet continues and he hears the rolling sound of apples stored in the cellar, as their huge loads arrive.

Stanza 4:

For IFor IFor IFor I have had too muchhave had too muchhave had too much have had too much

Of appleOf appleOf appleOf apple----picking; I am overtiredpicking; I am overtiredpicking; I am overtiredpicking; I am overtired Of the great harvest I myself desired.Of the great harvest I myself desired.Of the great harvest I myself desired.Of the great harvest I myself desired.

There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch,There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch,There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch,There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch, Cherish Cherish Cherish Cherish in hand, left down and not let fallin hand, left down and not let fallin hand, left down and not let fallin hand, left down and not let fall

For all For all For all For all

That struck the earth That struck the earth That struck the earth That struck the earth

No matter if not bruised or spiked with stubble,No matter if not bruised or spiked with stubble,No matter if not bruised or spiked with stubble,No matter if not bruised or spiked with stubble, Went surely to the ciderWent surely to the ciderWent surely to the ciderWent surely to the cider----apple heapapple heapapple heap apple heap

As of no worth.As of no worth.As of no worth.As of no worth.

Meanings of difficult words:

Cherish---oﮨا* ( ﮯ( MV ﮦدز, bruised---اﮨ +(, spiked---( ےﮍﭨ, stubble--- ےد ےر( ﮯ(, cider---7 ( ﮯ/ س

Reference to the Context:

Same as above.

Explanation:

In these lines, the poet explains that he has tired from apple picking. Still, there are thousands of apples on the trees and he wants to pluck all these apples with his own hands. He knows that all those apples that fell down and hit the ground, will surely become useless for storage. These spoiled apples will then be crushed for juice in the machine.

Stanza 5:

One can seeOne can seeOne can seeOne can see what will trouble what will trouble what will trouble what will trouble

This sleep of mine, whatever sleep This sleep of mine, whatever sleep This sleep of mine, whatever sleep This sleep of mine, whatever sleep it it it it is,is,is,is, Were he no gone,Were he no gone,Were he no gone,Were he no gone,

The woodchuck could say whether it’s like hisThe woodchuck could say whether it’s like hisThe woodchuck could say whether it’s like hisThe woodchuck could say whether it’s like his Longs sleep, as I describeLongs sleep, as I describeLongs sleep, as I describeLongs sleep, as I describe----its coming on its coming on its coming on its coming on Of just some human sleep.Of just some human sleep.Of just some human sleep.Of just some human sleep.

Meanings of difficult words:

Woodchuck---ر Fا ( ح: ( 8ﮩ.

Reference to the Context:

Same as above.

Explanation:

These are ending lines of the poem. The poet says that who wants to sleep is well aware what will disturb his sleep. Apart forms that, he wants to know what kind of sleep he is having. He says woodchuck could tell it easily about it. But that animal has gone. Now poet does not say surely whether his sleep will be like that of woodchuck or just a normal sleep for a few hours. He cannot also say whether it will be ordinary human sleep or the sleep of death. Here, in these lines the poet

ends his poem with these thoughts that all our activities ends in sleep. Death is also an sleep that ends our tiresome journey of life.

In document Notes Punjab University Lahore B.A English Explanation of Poems (Page 38-41)