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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:

JamieDedes said...

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

JamieDedes

kaykuala said...

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!

Anonymous said...

Good thoughts, David. I like this!

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

Daydreamertoo said...

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

Rose said...

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

Gerry Snape said...

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

The Weaver of Grass said...

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.

Victoria said...

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.

Misterio Vida said...

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 :)

Tommaso Gervasutti said...

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

Titus said...

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

Crafty Green Poet said...

excellent and thought provoking

Anonymous said...

Very nicely put, deep understanding.

Windsmoke. said...

Yes, the pristine world has gone sadly and been replaced by conflicts, war and disease of our doing :-).

Mary said...

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.

Unknown said...

just beautiful!

Lolamouse said...

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?

Sherry Blue Sky said...

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

Dave King said...

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.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

thought provoking...

thanks for the share...

Carl said...

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

Dave King said...

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.