Li-Young Lee "The Gift" 2

The author in my opinion has received a gift and has given one. I do believe that he received something worth remembering and in exchange has learned a method in which he now uses on his wife. The narrator, painlessly removing a splinter from his wife's hand, recalls the scene when he was boy seven years old and his father removed an "iron silver" splinter from his palm. The father had skillfully distracted his son by telling a story in a voice reassuring and low. When the narrator says " a well/of dark water, a prayer " that assured my thought of how his fathers words had an effect of making him feel less anxious and worried. The narrators wife now has a splinter and he is using the same solemn method to remove it from her palm. That gift that he received as a child he is now reiterating. Being able to take someone's mind away from a place of pain is a gift that is greatly appreciated and learned. The two gifts are 'one in the same', though different time periods and occurring with people of different relationships i.e. father and son, husband and wife. I still feel the same theme of love and true caring for the one in pain is major part of the gift. The son gained more than a painless splinter removal, but he gained skills as well. I feel the author is trying to send a message, that the best gift you can ever give some one is showing that you care, In the darkest times having someone calm and focused through any situation can bring a comforting light through anything. Methods like the father used is something that transcends through eras. The son doesn't even remember the story but yet remembers his feeling.

Robert Frost "AFter Apple picking"

After taking time to read Robert Frost's poem "After Apple Picking" i am almost certain that he isn't really talking about apples. I think he's using the apples as a metaphor to represent his life and struggles. I get from this poem that he's tired of life , work and everything else. He sounds as if he's declaring that he has paid his dues to this life. He wants a break from life seems as if he's ready to die and walk right into heaven, but just like every body's life there's obstacles and hurdles in our lives that we must accomplish before we can get to that place of peace and tranquility. He express that he doesn't have control over his path into heaven because there's a barrel waiting to be filled with apples. this poem essentially is that reality of a lot of things in life yo can be so close to where it is you want to be whether physically or mentally but there's thing beyond your control in your way.

Robert Frost "After Apple Picking'

After taking time to read Frost poem "After Apple Picking" I am almost certain that he isn't really talking about apples. I feel he's using the apples as a metaphor for life and work. He says he has a ladder pointing up to heaven but still a barrel there waiting to be filled. That to me shows he's ready to die. However nobody is ever ready no body has controll on their life and when their struggles shall end. He's showing how we don't have control of our lives we don't know when we can have our break and just walk into heaven because there's still things and responsibilities that need to be done such as filling that barrel with apples. However he's tired he feels he has paid his dues in life I think that's what he meant when he said i'm done apple picking. "Essence of winter sleep is on the night"He declares that his time to rest is now."I'm drowsing off" I feel he's saying i'm finished i'm coming to the end of my line. Even though he is tired and wants this hard life to end work keeps piling on"The rumbling sound of apples coming in"