Poem Analysis

This poem highlights the relationship between a mother and their child and how it is similar to that between a fruit and their tree. The Karaka tree represents a mother, and the orange fruit represents the child. The similarities between the two relationships are shown as the author uses imagery to convey this idea, the quote "The fruit ripen to deep orange, connected to the branch by a stem, which weakens as the fruit tissue swells" allows the reader to think of the fruit ripening just like the child growing.

The poem is broken up into three different parts without actually making three stanzas. The stages of the tree's relationship is represented in the three stages. The first stage the author discusses how the tree is strong, it is at a stage where its strength is greatly needed in order for its fruit to survive. The words "strong winds lash the forest/yet the karaka tree grows strong" symbolises that of a new mother and her baby. The mother is required to tend to the baby's every need as its helpless on its own. Without the mothers care and protection the baby would die. 
The second stage is about the fruit ripening and becoming stronger as an individual, the tree is not needed as much as it was previously. The line "the fruit ripens to a deep orange/connected to the branch by a single stem". A child grows and develops as it goes through adolescence, it becomes more independent needing less help from their mother. The begin to be connected to their mum with a weaker requirement.
The third stage discusses how the fruit has gained all it needs and leaves the safety of its tree. The words "the fruit plummets/for the first time its alone" resemble the child moving out from the sanctuary its home gives, and lives alone.