Life and Apples
The lines that I really would like to talk about are lines 2,3, and 6-8.
I feel these lines hold a lot of meaning when you take the poem as a metaphor for life. As with most Frost poems we see the clear link to nature and we see his love for it. I am seeing these five lines as introducing us to the fact that this poem is not actually about apples but about living life and his death instead.
line 2 Toward Heaven still,
This could be a reference toward death.
line 3 And there's a barrel that I didn't fill
This could mean something to the effect that he didn't get a chance to do everything he wanted to do in life.
line 6 But I am done with apple picking now
Another reference to death - he is done living now
line 7 Essence of winter sleep is on this night,
sleep is another of a reference to death and the fact that it is winter sleep i think implies this rest as a long one, as the darkness tends to last longer during the winter months.
line 8 The scent of apples: I am drowsing off.
Again we see yet another reference to sleep or eternal sleep. This combined with the scent of apples, which might be things that he did in his life. It implies that he is remembering his life before he dies.
While this may seem rather negative, what with it being about death, but I find that it is more reflective than sullen or downtrodden. He knows that his time is done and as the poem progresses he reflects on some of the important aspects of his life (metaphorically).
I agree that this poem is about life and death, not simply fruit. It was about life’s journey and I liked how you were able to relate each of those lines to Frost reflecting on a life, as it comes to an end. It is important to take the time to reflect on things, because if you don’t, how will you ever truly appreciate them?