You come to fetch me from my work to-night
When supper’s on the table, and we’ll see
If I can leave off burying the white
Soft petals fallen from the apple tree
(Soft petals, yes, but not so barren quite,
Mingled with these, smooth bean and wrinkled pea);
And go along with you ere you lose sight
Of what you came for and become like me,
Slave to a Springtime passion for the earth.
How Love burns through the Putting in the Seed
On through the watching for that early birth
When, just as the soil tarnishes with weed,
The sturdy seedling with arched body comes
Shouldering its way and shedding the earth crumbs.
Putting in the Seed
Analysis, meaning and summary of Robert Frost's poem Putting in the Seed
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Do you have any comments, criticism, paraphrasis or analysis of this poem that you feel would assist other visitors in understanding the meaning or the theme of this poem by Robert Frost better? If accepted, your analysis will be added to this page of American Poems. Together we can build a wealth of information, but it will take some discipline and determination.
I agree with all of you that the poem is indeed relating the act of sex with the fertilization of the earth, both resulting in new life. However, I think on a deeper level Frost may be conveying that he holds the same love for nature that most would associate with love making.
So I think that there is def. multiple layers in which one can read this poem, but hopefully this helps some of you do your exams and assignments 😀 good luck
the beauty of this poem is that it portrays the beauty of procreation. i am studying lit. as an a-level course and this poem is one of frost’s poem that i believe will touch women especially mothers to prove to them that it is or still what it.
i love poems like thiis because they touch the soul and i am more of a romantic person.
kuddos to frost.
I never studied this poem when I was in school. There were other Frost poems that we studied – ie ‘The Road not Taken’ ‘Mending Wall’.
The first time I read this, even though I see the natural overtures, I understood it to be about pregnancy. I take it that my husband did to, as he was the one who introduced it to me, and we are expecting our first child.
When I went back to re-read it, I realized it wasn’t necessarily about pregnancy, but about the act of sex itself.
Frost said himself that the meanings of his poems were generally the most obvious ones.
personally i think Robert Frost is not a very good poet,because there are to many hidden meanings in his work,its hard to work it all out!
hey, reading your comments have given me some great ideas! but just starting the course id like some help from you guys, if you guys have any important info or facts that are useful about the poem, please could you write back!just to help me out! thanx! love me x
hey, im also doing robert frost for my a-levels,which at first i thought it was a bummer, but by reading ur comments i can get ur ideas about this poem,which for me is,better,cos i did think o no… poems..analysing, arrrrrr!so thanx for your comments uve helped me out! gud luk eveyone!
Frost is a deep poet. “Putting in the seed” has definatley got a sexual agenda, the title alone conveys this. “if i leave off burrying the white soft petals” seems to be Frost describing love making outside and the sheer weight burries the soft white petals. This may be related to Frost’s mistress. Definatley a light hearted poem which uses love making as a metaphor to conve his love for nature. Good luck in you exams everyoneXXX
Definately sexual undertones here…
Interesting that your teacher says all Frosts poems are about sex, ours says they are all about DEATH…..
Stopping by woods…not merely a cheery little poem about snow, but apparently Frost contemplating suicide. Cheery, wasn’t he?
i think this poem has so many meaning there is no point tryin to analyse it true hidden message
Im also studying Robert Rrost poems for my A-levels and all your comments have really helped me understand what they mean…Thanx 🙂
Just wanna say thanks for all the help, I really cant get the “hidden meanings” on my own and you guys have shown me a completely different side to this poem (I thought Oven Bird was all about de-forestation!)…
I am ALSO studying robert frost poems for A level. But how many hidden meanings are there in these poems because our teacher mike says there all about sex 🙁
I am studying this poem for my A-Levels, and I believe that the poem consists of ideas of the growth of a baby. Planting the seed being conception, and the growth of the baby to that of ‘early birth’ and ‘arched body’, showing the extent of the meaning throughout the poem, leading to the belief of the seedling being that of a baby. I find this poem very interesting, evaluating the concepts of Frost’s poems, into that of reality can be some what of challenge, but the ways he uses metaphors to construct ideas such as birth, and relating his views and concepts into other poems. In relation of ‘ the Apple Tree’, to that of ‘After Apple-Picking’. Also unlike ‘The Oven Bird’, ‘Putting in the Seed’ is a happy, contented sonnet, and relate to the joy of birth and creation which is a common nature in Frost’s poetry.
I really feel that this poem is an extended metaphor for a block of wood. The poem and the block of wood are very similar. Both could be made into something rather beautiful and nice, but just like a drunk carpenter, Frost just couldn’t be bothered to add something special to this poem. Just a bunch of lines that happen to rhyme – like a wood block just happens to be an effective doorstop.
Oh and you could also say that it’s a continuation of ‘After Apple Picking’, which is a rather more special work from Frost’s collections.
I am also studying this for my A Levels I think this particular poem is ambiguous with many different meanings the main the growth of a plant or a baby!! “Seedling” confirms it has something to do with plants and “arched body” suggests the figure is of a baby lying in a womans stomach
I have read an analysis of this which says the poem is purely about his love of nature, but my English teacher insists that he has ulterior motives in all of his poems. In this case I would definitely suggest that there are sexual connotations throughout, and also ideas of reproduction, procreation. For example ‘barren’ can not only mean empty, but can also mean that a person is unable to have children. I think that the poem may be about Frost realising that the only love he has is for nature, and he no longer craves sex (he was writing this poem when he was slightly older, and had conceived all the children he would ever have).
i am also studying him for my a-levels and personally i hink he is a rubbish poet. I think that its nice to have a hidden meaning in a poem and have to think about it. But when everyone has to try just tothink of anything ithink its pointless. it doesnt convey a message at all. thanks exam board for giving us this.
i have to study this poem for my a levels and i feel that this poem is very metaphorical and that the seed represents a new life (a baby). i interpret this poem as having sexual qualitys to it
I think that this poem is about the beginning and end of life. The title refers to the beginning of life, like planting a seed and line 12 refers to the end of life.