Titles are an important aspect to a poem and offer a summary or clue to what the poem may be about. What is apple picking? It is not taking a red fruit from a tree and sticking it into a barrel. Apple picking symbolizes the decisions you make in life. Since the title is "After Apple Picking" it depicts a reflection upon life itself after everything is said and done. With life as a main subject, this poem has religious ties. The title can be read off as "After Life is Over and done."

Reading, the poem is started as a reflection. The narrator begins to saw that there are several barrels he has not filled [with apples]. Apples represent choices made in life either good or bad. The narrator seems to have come short of some events. Narrator was not done with life yet but his chance...