The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #83986   Message #1549614
Posted By: Schwa
25-Aug-05 - 02:21 PM
Thread Name: Meaning: John Shaw Neilson's 'Orange Tree'
Subject: RE: Meaning: John Shaw Neilson's 'Orange Tree'
Thanks for your thoughts about the poem Helen, very enlightening. I've been pondering about it for ages (part of the joy of the poem I guess), and perhaps like the adult in the poem missing something – or not , I don't know!
Do you think there might be more to what the adult is saying than random guesswork about what's going on in the orange tree? If the adult in the poem is a man, his referral to 'he' in the poem suggests to me he might be talking about himself – dreams, experiences etc? It seems that the adult is as lost as the child in their own worlds.
Also do you know if Neilson ever wrote about its meaning? Thanks again, I appreciate the time you've spared to share your thoughts.

David