Fruit Ripening by Chris Sorrenti
Yes, Heaven is thine; but this
Is a world of sweets and sours
Our flowers are merely flowers,
And the shadow of thy perfect bliss
Is the sunshine of ours.
- Edgar Allan Poe, Israfel
Of Heaven and Hell, this Earth
Mortals born between
Have faith, quoth the Raven;
Human fruit ripening
From the tree of life ye soon shall fall,
Whether up or down utmost depends
What secrets gather at thy core.
For life is but a test of spirit,
So the Raven says;
Regardless the battles won or lost
But what was learned from them;
And quickly now, choose which path
Saintly or of sin
Wait not on the 'morrow
To 'cide which one
Thus quoth the Raven; fruit ripening.
Of Heaven and Hell, this Earth
One day, order; the next, astray;
And rich or poor, it matters not;
Only love and humility
Does the master take;
And if when plucked, thy fruit is sweet,
On his tree ye'll forever dwell
But if sour, quoth the Raven,
Nevermore!
© 1993
3,060 hits as of February 2024
07/27/2005 Author's Note: The closing poem in Assorted Candies - Some Bitter/Some Sweet.
Posted on 07/27/2005 Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti
Member Comments on this Poem |
Posted by Maureen Glaude on 07/27/05 at 04:49 PM This was always one of my most fav. of yours also. Excellent. |
Posted by Ashok Sharda on 07/28/05 at 02:26 PM 'From the tree of life ye soon shall fall,
Whether up or down utmost depends
What secrets gather at thy core.'yes, first levitating and than gravitating. This is life, hand in hand with death.
|
Posted by Morgan D Hafele on 07/28/05 at 08:30 PM great piece chris, i love the poe opening, and the closing was perfect! |
Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 07/29/05 at 02:27 AM Masterful, compelling, direct in its message. Edgar Allen Poe quote a plus! |
Posted by JD Clay on 08/01/05 at 03:19 AM Another fine example of your empirical diversity and existential range. Truly amazing how you can take a classic line or phrase and turn it into something more than expected. I wish I had that type of command over my mind.
pe4ce... |
|