The Allure of Apples: Poems Celebrating Nature's Gift

Apples have long been a symbol of temptation, knowledge, and the beauty of nature. Throughout history, poets have been inspired by the simple yet profound fruit, using it as a metaphor for a range of emotions and experiences. Here, we explore a selection of poems that capture the essence of apples in all their juicy, ripe glory.

The Sweetness of Apples

Apple Blossom by John Clare

The apple blossom, white and pure,
Glows like a snowy vest,
The very earth and hedgerows o'er
With lily whiteness drest.
The glory of the orchard dip,
The glory of the tree;
The apple blossom, pure as snow,
How beautiful to see.

Apple Orchard by Mary Oliver

I walk the orchard,
I breathe the fragrance
of apples.
I see them give way
to the light,
I understand the beauty
of loss.

The Symbolism of Apples

After Apple-Picking by Robert Frost

My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a tree
Toward heaven still,
And there's a barrel that I didn't fill
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn't pick upon some bough.
But I am done with apple-picking now.
Essence of winter sleep is on the night,
The scent of apples: I am drowsing off.

A Poison Tree by William Blake

I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,
And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

The Sensory Experience of Apples

Apples by Grace Hoffman

Red and green and yellow too,
All are colors of an apple through.
The shiny skin with its waxy gleam,
The crisp white flesh that awaits the bite,
The juice that dribbles down the chin,
The sweet and tart mingling on the tongue.
Oh, apples how we savor you,
In pies and tarts and ciders too.

To conclude,

Poems about apples capture the essence of this beloved fruit in all its forms – from the sweetness of a ripe apple to the symbolism of the forbidden fruit. Whether celebrating the beauty of an apple orchard in bloom or exploring the darker themes of temptation and betrayal, these poems demonstrate the enduring appeal of apples in literature.