Putting in the Seed

"After Apple-Picking" by Robert Frost (1914)

In “Putting in the Seed,” the speaker is invigorated and entranced by planting apple seeds. In “After Apple-Picking,” the speaker is worn out after picking apples. “Putting in the Seed” is from Frost’s third book, “After Apple-Picking” is from his second, but read together they form a more complete picture of the relationship between man and nature than either poem offers on its own: Farming is both invigorating and exhausting.

"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost (1916)

“The Road Not Taken” is the first poem in Frost’s third book of poetry, Mountain Interval. “Putting in the Seed” is also included in this collection. Moreover, the two poems share common themes, including the relationship between man and nature and the exploration of the physical world and the imagination.

"Birches" by Robert Frost (1916)

“Birches” is also included in Mountain Interval, and also explores themes of nature and the imagination. As one might expect from poems in the same book, “The Road Not Taken,” “Birches,” and “Putting in the Seed” speak to each other.