Arbole, Arbole
Arbole, Arbole - meaning Summary
Temptation and Constancy
The poem describes a young girl calmly picking olives beneath a tree while various suitors — riders, bullfighters, and a young man — pass by calling her to cities (Córdoba, Sevilla, Granada). Each offer is refused; the wind repeatedly embraces her, and the refrain of the tree frames the scene. The poem contrasts external temptation and movement with the girl’s steady, rooted labour and quiet refusal.
Read Complete AnalysesTree, tree, dry and green. The girl with the pretty face is out picking olives. The wind, playboy of towers, grabs her around the waist. Four riders passed by on Andalusian ponies, with blue and green jackets and big, dark capes. “Come to Cordoba, muchacha.” The girl won’t listen to them. Three young bullfighters passed, slender in the waist, with jackets the color of oranges and swords of ancient silver. “Come to Sevilla, muchacha.” The girl won’t listen to them. When the afternoon had turned dark brown, with scattered light, a young man passed by, wearing roses and myrtle of the moon. “Come to Granada, muchacha.” And the girl won’t listen to him. The girl with the pretty face keeps on picking olives with the grey arm of the wind wrapped around her waist. Tree, tree, dry and green.
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