Coring the Apple by Sarah E. Page

Sarah Page incorporates repetition and imagery into this Garden of Eden themed poem. It begins with worlds in italics, implying dialog, saying “Instead of the thorn, Hast thou found honey?”

This is a question the author wishes to someday ask Eve as well as “What she saw in the apple.” Sarah Page goes onto compare the apple to the decision Eve made to partake of the mortal experience. The core of the apple is symbolic of the future of the mortal experience, or humanity.

She contemplates, “Perhaps she sensed the hope nestled star-like in the core of the fruit”

Sarah Page relates back to the imagery of thorns and briars as Eve contemplates the possible future pains associated with the human experience. The imagery of the seeds in the core of the apple is related to the actual seed or posterity of Eve.

Sarah Page beautifully encapsulates the possible feelings of Eve in the Garden of Eden as she contemplates partaking of the forbidden fruit. In the LDS culture and theology, Eve is regarded as a woman of great knowledge and foresight. Partaking of the forbidden fruit was an act of great thought and consideration, not one of hast or physical desire. Sarah Page reflects on the fact that Eve must have considered the promises given concerning her seed. The promises and prophecies made to her must have conflicted greatly with the commandment given to not partake of the fruit. Sarah Page portrays this struggle of conscience as Eves decides whether having a posterity is worth the figurative thorns and briers spoken of in the poem. 

I have found myself contemplating this very question after reading this poem. “Instead of the thorn, Hast thou found honey?” I am sure she would say she has experienced many thorns, but was there honey along the way? This question seems to ask Eve, “Was it all worth it?” “Was your decision to bring pain into the world worth it?” “Is there enough sweet in the world to make the decision worthwhile?” As Eve looked at the fruit, she must have contemplated the decision was a huge risk and it would bring a lot of pain. Many of us students are going through similar decisions as we consider marriage or families. It truly would be interesting to know, as Sarah E Page puts it, “What she saw in me.”