My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a tree…
“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.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker reflects on the exhaustion of labor and the inevitable rest that follows, using apple picking as a metaphor for life’s unfinished tasks and the approach of death.
In simple terms: The speaker is tired after work and looks forward to rest, thinking of missed apples.
Key Takeaway
Accept fatigue and find peace in rest.
Themes
labor
exhaustion
reflection
mortality
completion
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
resigned
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- post-work rest
- life reflection
- accepting mortality
- letting go of unfinished tasks
Key Concepts
impermanence
satisfaction
acceptance
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the orchard symbolize for you?
- How do you reconcile unfinished work with peace?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may oversimplify complex emotions about unfulfilled goals.