This lyric is a subtle product of the voice of experience, using the figure of the poison tree as a vehicle for describing the psychological states of transferred hatred and anger. In an earlier draft of the poem the speaker gives the fruit of his anger to his foe, whereas here the foe is attracted to the apple because he knows it belongs to the speaker. Critical speculation surrounds the interpretation of both tree and apple in this poem: the most obvious association is with the apple on the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, leading to identification of the speaker as the jealous God of creation. Clearly the poem raises issues of the tone and attitude of the speaker. Is he full of self-congratulation at the death of his foe? Can the poem be read as simply a warning over the dangers of repressed anger, for where is the remorse over the foe's death or the speaker's conscience?