"Allington Pippin"

Illustration by Arthur Rackham

This lovely illustration by Arthur Rackham was among a small suite of paintings prepared for "A Dish of Apples" (1921).

It is associated with the following poem, 'Allington Pippin', from which it draws its title.

'Allington Pippin'

 

Delicate and dainty thing!

For the fairies you were fashioned;

Than a flavour so impassioned

Pine and grape no richer bring.

Poets falter

At your altar,

Lacking grace your charm to sing.

 

Never was a blonde so fair;

Nor a wild rose in the morn

Wore a blush so sweet and rare,

Laughing all the maids to scorn.

Such perfection

Of complexion

Well might make a girl despair.

 

Lady's apple thou shalt be

Food that pretty women eat -

Pouting lips thy destiny,

Sparkling sweets unto the sweet.

Anathema

For the dream

Male, who lifts a hand to thee.

 

Pyban apples, with the scent,

Fed the pygmy folk of old;

Such ethereal nourishment

Made them all as good as gold;

And would that we,

Inspire by thee,

Thus attained to our content.

 

If on fragrance we might thrive;

If the scene of quince and pear,

Breath of honey from the hive,

Odours in the orchard air

Filled our menu,

What a gay, new,

Gentle, gracious life we'd live!