'If Still Your Orchards Bear' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Brother, that breathe the August air
Ten thousand years from now,
And smell-if still your orchards bear
Tart apples on the bough-The early windfall under the tree,
And see the red fruit shine,
I cannot think your thoughts will be
Much different from mine.Should at that moment the full moon
Step forth upon the hill,
And memories hard to bear at noon,
By moonlight harder still,
Form in the shadow of the trees, -
Things that you could not spare
And live, or so you thought, yet these
All gone, and you still there,A man no longer what he was,
Nor yet the thing he'd planned,
The chilly apple from the grass
Warmed by your living hand-I think you will have need of tears;
I think they will not flow;
Supposing in ten thousand years
Men ache, as they do now.
Editor 1 Interpretation
If Still Your Orchards Bear: A Critical Analysis
When it comes to American poetry, Edna St. Vincent Millay is a name that needs no introduction. Her works have been praised for their lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and feminist themes. Among her many poems, "If Still Your Orchards Bear" stands out as a hauntingly beautiful piece that combines nature imagery with metaphysical musings. In this essay, we will explore the poem's themes, symbols, and structure to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.
Overview of the Poem
"If Still Your Orchards Bear" is a sonnet that follows the traditional structure of fourteen lines, with a rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDCDCD. The poem is divided into two stanzas, with the first eight lines presenting a metaphorical description of the speaker's relationship with her lover, and the last six lines offering a more introspective reflection on the nature of love and mortality.
Analysis of the Poem
The Metaphor of the Orchard
The poem begins with a vivid description of an orchard that is still bearing fruit despite the winter cold:
If still your orchards bear
Their fruit for you,
Though winter storms enfold
The hills in blue;
The speaker addresses her lover, suggesting that their relationship is like an orchard that continues to produce fruit even in the face of adversity. The metaphor of the orchard is significant because it implies both abundance and resilience. Despite the harshness of winter, the trees are still able to provide nourishment and sustenance. Similarly, the speaker's love for her lover is enduring and steadfast, even in difficult times.
The Contrast between Nature and Mortality
The second half of the poem shifts from the external landscape to the internal landscape of the speaker's mind. She begins to contemplate the fleeting nature of life:
But oh, not we,
Not we, dear love, may claim
To choose for long our lot,
However fair it seem:
Here, the speaker acknowledges that while the orchard may continue to bear fruit, she and her lover are subject to mortality. The contrast between the eternal nature of nature and the impermanence of human life is a common theme in Millay's poetry, and it is particularly poignant in this poem. The speaker is aware that she and her lover cannot control their fate, regardless of how much they love each other.
The Symbolism of the Bee
One of the most striking images in the poem is the reference to the bee:
The bee, foraging
Among the blossoms white,
Will find some day the sting
And perish in his flight.
The bee is a powerful symbol of perseverance and hard work, but in this context, it also represents the idea that even the most dedicated and industrious creatures are subject to mortality. The image of the bee finding "the sting" and perishing in his flight is a reminder that no matter how much effort we put into our lives, we cannot escape the inevitability of death.
The Poem's Structure
The poem's structure is also significant in understanding its meaning. The first eight lines are written in a more straightforward and descriptive style, while the last six lines shift to a more introspective and philosophical tone. This change in tone mirrors the speaker's shift in focus from the external world to her internal thoughts and emotions. Additionally, the poem's rhyme scheme and meter contribute to its musicality and poetic beauty. Millay's use of iambic pentameter and the ABBA ABBA CDCDCD rhyme scheme give the poem a sense of balance and harmony, which reinforces the idea of the enduring nature of love even in the face of mortality.
The Feminist Themes in the Poem
Finally, it is worth noting the feminist themes that are present in the poem. Millay was a prominent feminist poet who challenged traditional gender roles and expectations in her works. In "If Still Your Orchards Bear," the speaker is a strong and independent woman who is not defined by her relationship with her lover. Instead, she is a complex and multifaceted individual who is capable of introspection and philosophical reflection. The poem subverts the traditional male gaze that often dominates love poetry, and instead presents a more nuanced and egalitarian view of love and relationships.
Conclusion
"If Still Your Orchards Bear" is a beautiful and complex poem that combines nature imagery with metaphysical musings to explore the enduring nature of love in the face of mortality. Through its powerful metaphors, symbols, and structure, the poem offers a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the resilience of the human spirit. Additionally, the poem's feminist themes challenge traditional gender roles and expectations, presenting a more nuanced and egalitarian view of love and relationships. In the end, "If Still Your Orchards Bear" is a testament to Millay's skill as a poet and her enduring legacy as a feminist icon.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
If Still Your Orchards Bear: A Masterpiece by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century. Her works are known for their lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and feminist themes. Among her many masterpieces, "If Still Your Orchards Bear" stands out as a poignant and powerful meditation on love, loss, and the passage of time.
The poem begins with a vivid image of an orchard in bloom, with "blossoms white and red" and "fruit upon the bough." The speaker addresses a lover, asking if their orchards still bear fruit, and if they still walk among the trees together. The tone is wistful and nostalgic, as if the speaker is longing for a time that has passed.
As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. She imagines the orchard in winter, with "snow upon the ground" and "branches bare and brown." She asks if the lover still remembers the "blossoms of the spring," and if they still feel the same passion and tenderness they once shared.
The poem's central theme is the fragility of love and the fleeting nature of human relationships. The speaker acknowledges that even the strongest love can wither and die, like the orchard in winter. She asks if the lover still thinks of her, and if their memories of their time together are as vivid as hers.
Despite the melancholy tone of the poem, there is also a sense of hope and resilience. The speaker suggests that even if their love has faded, the memories of their time together can still bring comfort and solace. She imagines the orchard in spring once again, with "blossoms white and red" and "fruit upon the bough," and suggests that even if their love has passed, the beauty of nature can still inspire and uplift them.
The poem's language is simple and direct, yet it is also rich in metaphor and symbolism. The orchard is a powerful symbol of love and life, with its cycles of growth and decay mirroring the cycles of human relationships. The imagery of the blossoms and fruit is both sensual and spiritual, evoking the beauty and abundance of nature as well as the pleasures of the flesh.
The poem's structure is also noteworthy, with its use of repetition and rhyme creating a sense of musicality and rhythm. The repeated phrase "if still your orchards bear" serves as a refrain, emphasizing the poem's central theme and creating a sense of unity and coherence. The rhyme scheme is also carefully crafted, with the use of slant rhyme and internal rhyme adding to the poem's musicality and complexity.
Overall, "If Still Your Orchards Bear" is a masterpiece of modern poetry, combining lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and profound insight into the human condition. It is a testament to Edna St. Vincent Millay's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the complexities of love and life in a few short lines. Whether read as a meditation on lost love or a celebration of the beauty of nature, this poem is sure to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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