Wednesday, 24 August 2011

On a strange allegory

For The Gooseberry Garden's First Poetry Week

Naked we are born
into a virtual garden,
but soon we yearn
to know what adults know,
to equal them in station and prestige.
And through this urge we come
to challenge them
in actions of defiance -
rebellions to end the status quo.

They've had a bad press all these years,
have Eve and Adam.
Like Judas, they deserve some sympathy.
The cutting loose,
the independence trip,
defiance of control in all its forms
are necessary steps along
a necessary way.
Part of the plan, the eating of that apple!
God knew from the beginning
what the two of them would do.

The pleasures of that pristine world
have gone for good,
have gone for our much greater good -
a good we should not sacrifice.

22 comments:

  1. Oh, I do agree with this. A fine poem.
    Happy picnic, David.

    JamieDedes

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  2. Yes, the pleasures of the pristine world is gone for good. We have instead a brave new world, full of conflicts,calamities,diseases, hunger and a host of other pleasures!

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  3. Good thoughts, David. I like this!

    My offering for this first Gooseberry Garden picnic: http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/this-eden/

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  4. Without sin, there would be no need for God, would there?
    Lovely prose.

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  5. I couldn't agree with you more - a good we should not sacrifice - well said!

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  6. what a fabulous peom Dave! that you should think that Adam and Eve need a bit of understanding...I love it...I'm identifying!

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  7. In a kind of way this reminds me of one of the lyrics of Merrie England (Edward German), which I remember singing in as a young girl - it suggests that nature was wonderful until 'my lady fashion' came along.

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  8. I agree, David. Had we not known good and evil we would not have the power to choose. And I think that's central to the divine plan.

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  9. a great poem this one... yes if there was not that apple episode, then we wouldnt be here...there would have been no earth and no human race and nothing...so it was part of the script :)

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  10. I really enjoyed this David.
    Are the echoes from "Intimations of Immortality..." by Wordsworth voluntary or just in my mind?

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  11. Yes, very fine. I love the proposition, argument and formality of the whole thing.

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  12. Very nicely put, deep understanding.

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  13. Yes, the pristine world has gone sadly and been replaced by conflicts, war and disease of our doing :-).

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  14. Yes, i agree that God knew what the two of them would do. All was predetermined, I think. I agree that Adam and Eve (and Judas) deserve sympathy. Someone had to play these roles.

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  15. Nicely done. And I agree with you. Eve, especially, has gotten a bad rap. If God created her, then she did exactly as God would have had her to do, yes?

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  16. Lots to think about here. I love especially "naked we are born into a virtual garden" - and such a beautiful one.

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  17. Jamie
    A warm welcome to you Jamie, and thanks for visiting. I return your good wish.

    kaykuala
    Take your point, but might quibble with "full of". Appreciate the comment.

    charleslmashburn
    Thanks forvisiting and for the comment. A sincere welcome to you. Shall be along anon.

    Daydreamertoo
    Good to have you visiting and good to hear your views. And a good point you make. Very thought-provoking. Thank you for it.

    Rose
    Lovely, as always, to hear from you. Thanks for keeping in touch.

    Gerry
    It is something I thought back as a boy listening to the vicar taking Sunday School. I always thought that Judas and Adam and Eve were all playing their part, a part presumably laid out for them by The Almighty, so why were they being demonised? (And even if they were not real people, but characters in a play, the objection stands.)

    The Weaver of Grass
    Yes, I know Merrie England, not well, but maybe enough to see where you're coming from. I take it as a great compliment! Thanks for it.

    Victoria
    Amen to that. An aspect I perhaps should have included. Thanks for saying it.

    Muhammad
    That's taking it a step further on than my thinking had taken me, but I see the force of what you're saying, and thank you for the contribution. Very thouight-provoking.

    Tommaso
    I must confess that they were not in my mind, but I am delighted if they are there! Edward German and Wordsworth! Wow, I shall have to go and have a lie down!

    Titus
    Very many thanks for that comment. Very reassuring!

    Crafty Green Poet
    Thanks. Always good to hear from you.

    unsungpoet
    Hi! and a warm welcome to you. My thanks to you for visiting and for the much appreciated comment.

    Windsmoke
    Yes, that's the thing - if only we kept our mischief to the eating of the apple! Kids' stuff!

    Mary
    Exactly so. The great play had to be played out. Thanks Mary.

    Michelle
    Hi and a very warm welcome. Thank you for your generous comment. It is much appreciated.

    Lolamouse
    That's my theory, certainly. He put the apple tree in the garden for a reason!

    Sherry Blue Sky
    Hi. Good to have you visiting and to hear your views - always welcome.

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  18. One of you best. I love the flow as well as the ideas you put out in this one.

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  19. The Cello Strings
    Sorry to be so behind the times in replying, but your comment is both valued and most useful. Thank you for it.

    Carl
    As always, a generous comment. Thanks Carl, and as above, my apologies for tardiness.

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