Stealing Apples Of Life

Stealing Apples Of Life
© Surazeus
2025 01 02

The rainbow-winged serpent with ruby eyes 
slithers slowly in web of curving limbs, 
spiraling around soul-genetic coil 
of flashing nodes composing Tree of Life 
through each sefirah of world divine mind 
that grows from heart of Earth with apple eyes. 

Waking under the apple tree in Heaven, 
Saron stands and stretches limbs of his soul 
to breathe ethereal spirit of the sun, 
then reaches out his hand to pluck one fruit, 
but rainbow-winged serpent with ruby eyes 
poises to strike and bite his greedy hand. 

"Who are you, little yellow flame of dirt," 
the rainbow-serpent Nahash hisses sharply, 
"that you dare steal fruit from the Tree of Life, 
as if you wish to open your eyes wide 
to know good and evil, and be like El, 
who shines bright with light of eternal truth?" 

Blinded by shining beauty of Nahash, 
who shimmers bright as sword blade forged of bronze, 
Saron blinks his eyes till he sees its face, 
slender angelic visage with long chin, 
slim almond-shaped eyes gleaming ruby clear, 
and long curls of hair writhing red as flames. 

"My name is Saron, son of Salorin, 
and I have to come to Heaven with intent, 
to attend great Academy of Scribes 
so I can work in Hall of Messengers, 
yet I am hungry for soul energy, 
so how may I acquire sweet fruit to eat?" 

"Answer this riddle and you may eat fruit," 
Nahash smirks, "or else you will be expelled 
and never allowed in Heaven again. 
What creature walks on four legs in the morning, 
two legs at noon, and tree legs in the evening?" 
Sunlight flickers in the wind-rustled leaves. 

"This strange shape-changing creature you describe 
must be humans who are born from the womb, 
crawl on four limbs as infants, rise to walk 
on two legs and manipulate things with hands 
as adults, but then become weak with age 
and lean on the cane when they become old." 

Hissing in surprise, Nahash flutters wings 
amused, then smiles with delight and replies, 
"You may pluck one apple from Tree of Life 
as reward for solving with clever wit 
this difficult riddle no one has solved 
since few know that mortal humans age." 

Snatching ripe apple from the Tree of Life 
before guardian serpent changes his mind, 
Saron turns and quickly walks down the road, 
and grins with delight as he eats sweet fruit 
that fills his mind with flashing images 
revealing essential truth about things. 

Approaching large Academy of Scribes, 
square temple with four pillars on its porch, 
Saron presents brass token with his name, 
then enters grand hall with hundreds of desks 
surrounded by enormous rows of shelves 
heaped with tablets, scrolls, folios, and books. 

After Saron watches with reverent awe 
as angels transcribe texts in leather books, 
Tirzah shows him dorm room where he will live, 
and classroom where he will learn how to write 
letters that record visions of our minds, 
then takes him to office of the Chief Scribe. 

Standing before large desk with books and tools, 
Saron reaches out to touch crystal ball 
that seems to shimmer full of starry eyes, 
but raven on bust of some prophet caws, 
so he steps back startled with guilty gasp 
as tall slender man in black robe arrives. 

"If you touch that Orb of World History," 
Nabiel frowns with sly twinkle in his eye, 
"you may get sucked into the flow of time, 
so trapped in ever-fluctuating change 
of endless struggle to control the world 
that you would never live your own free life." 

At look of consternation on his face, 
Nabiel gestures for Saron to relax 
and drink warm apple cider for his health. 
"Welcome to our Academy of Scribes. 
You look just like your father Salorin 
who studied here when I became Chief Scribe." 

"Follow daily study with strict routine, 
eating, learning letters, transcribing books, 
and joining seminars to learn of science, 
and you will succeed in passing each grade 
so you can earn position in the court." 
Saron palms his hands and bows in respect. 

Returning to Tree of Life by the pool, 
Saron greets Nahash with admiring smile, 
then opens his hand with dramatic flair. 
"Accept this diamond as gift of my heart, 
for I dug it from mountain cave of fear." 
Nahash beams with joy as Saron smiles brightly.