The Apple© Once upon a time, nothing existed in the entire universe except an Apple. One day, one of the seeds nestled inside his core started to grow. At first the Apple was surprised to feel a tingle of movement in his field of awareness, however, the new experience so stimulated his appetite for knowledge, that he accepted the sensation and spent much time pondering this marvel of nature. “From my core, I will produce a seedling tree, and my offspring will flourish.... grow, little seed, grow,” he encouraged this evolving part of his consciousness. Every day the Apple checked on the progress of his progeny. With great delight, he followed each stage of development, as the Seed produced eyes and a mouth that tickled pleasantly in his core. As time passed, the evolving Seed absorbed more and more energy from the Apple. The young Pip was so joyous in his existence that he made the Apple very happy, and the Apple continued to observe the progress of his inner self with rapped attention. He loved, tended and observed his wonderful creation, and in doing so, learned much about himself from the charming, juvenile companion. “We have so much to share together. By comparison, my life was really quite boring when I was all alone”, the Apple told the Seedling. One day, as the Apple pondered the magnificence of nature, a terrible realisation filled his consciousness. The shock was almost too much to bear. His progeny had failed to grown shoots or leaves. Something was terribly wrong. “My God! You are a worm!” screamed the Apple The Worm smiled. “Yes I am”, he replied. The traumatised Apple spoke in anger. “You are a nasty, evil, alien thing!” he squealed. Shuddering with hate, the Apple’s perception of the universe collapsed. Fear replaced his state of tranquillity. How could he have been so gullible! He was betrayed by his own lack of common sense. He wanted to scream and shout to get rid of this terrible wriggling malevolence. “You are an evil, cruel animal parasite and if you don’t leave now, I will shrivel and die before I allow you to destroy my dreams of fathering a tree,” he howled at the Worm. The Worm was terribly upset. He did not understand what was happening. Suddenly his loving parent, who had been his host and represented everything he knew and believed had turned against him. They were of the same flesh! He loved the Apple! What did the Apple’s cruel words mean? He didn’t feel particularly wicked or evil, but the Apple’s rejection made him feel a terrible sense of guilt. “Would you like me to leave, father?” the Worm asked the Apple. “Yes,” cried the Apple. He pondered this possibility. As far as the Apple was aware, nowhere else existed. “Where would you go?” the Apple queried. “I could try and find another Apple,” sobbed the Worm, scared of going out alone into the outside world, about which he knew nothing. The Apple felt a sudden pang of jealousy at the mention of another Apple, and also grain of sympathy for his Worm. Perhaps he had been a little hasty. The Worm might not find another apple and then what would the parasite do? After all, the Worm was his creation and had grown from the consciousness of his very own flesh. With a sigh, the Apple reconciled himself to hosting the Worm and his anger abated. He remembered when his existence had been without consciousness of new life; when his state of being an apple was so beautiful, radiant and pure and yet so formless and alone. Now, he had learned to love a friend, and because he had watched the progress of the Worm, the Apple had also become aware of the passage of time. Over their lifetimes together, the Apple and the Worm had slipped through the seasons, sharing Summer’s progress into Autumn. With a flash of insight, the Apple suddenly knew that he had no purpose without the Worm. His sacrifice was great, but without the Worm, his life had no meaning. The Worm spoke. “Dearest Apple, you must understand that we are one. I am your flesh and I am your child. We must live like this, in a mutually beneficial relationship for although I depend on you, in many ways, you depend on me, too,” he remarked. The Apple was impressed with these words. His Worm understood how they were inseparable. Only fear and guilt caused him to think that they were divided. A wind picked up. A mighty apple tree shook his branches. The Apple containing the Worm fell to the ground. “Dear Apple and Worm, you are both a necessary part of my love affair with the earth and sky. You are both a part of me. Through you, my purpose is fulfilled and I hold you both in the blessings of my woody old heart.” The Apple was filled with contentment. With the help of the Worm, his browned and wrinkled body would gladly decay to form a warm, moist bed for harbouring new seed growth during the following Spring. He sank thankfully into the mossy ground and acknowledged his parent tree and the soil on which he rested. Inside the warm comforting flesh of the Apple, a small, well- ripened Apple pip whispered to the tight brown chrysalis encased beside him in the rotten core, ‘See you in next year, friend.’

3.The Seagull ©
4. Ignorance ©

The Apple©

Once upon a time, nothing existed in the entire universe except an Apple. One day, one of the seeds nestled inside his core started to grow. At first the Apple was surprised to feel a tingle of movement in his field of awareness, however, the new experience so stimulated his appetite for knowledge, that he accepted the sensation and spent much time pondering this marvel of nature.

“From my core, I will produce a seedling tree, and my offspring will flourish.... grow, little seed, grow,” he encouraged this evolving part of his consciousness.

Every day the Apple checked on the progress of his progeny. With great delight, he followed each stage of development, as the Seed produced eyes and a mouth that tickled pleasantly in his core.

As time passed, the evolving Seed absorbed more and more energy from the Apple. The young Pip was so joyous in his existence that he made the Apple very happy, and the Apple continued to observe the progress of his inner self with rapped attention. He loved, tended and observed his wonderful creation, and in doing so, learned much about himself from the charming, juvenile companion.

“We have so much to share together. By comparison, my life was really quite boring when I was all alone”, the Apple told the Seedling.

One day, as the Apple pondered the magnificence of nature, a terrible realisation filled his consciousness. The shock was almost too much to bear. His progeny had failed to grown shoots or leaves. Something was terribly wrong.

“My God! You are a worm!” screamed the Apple

The Worm smiled.

“Yes I am”, he replied.

The traumatised Apple spoke in anger.

“You are a nasty, evil, alien thing!” he squealed.

Shuddering with hate, the Apple’s perception of the universe collapsed. Fear replaced his state of tranquillity. How could he have been so gullible! He was betrayed by his own lack of common sense. He wanted to scream and shout to get rid of this terrible wriggling malevolence.

“You are an evil, cruel animal parasite and if you don’t leave now, I will shrivel and die before I allow you to destroy my dreams of fathering a tree,” he howled at the Worm.

The Worm was terribly upset. He did not understand what was happening. Suddenly his loving parent, who had been his host and represented everything he knew and believed had turned against him. They were of the same flesh! He loved the Apple! What did the Apple’s cruel words mean? He didn’t feel particularly wicked or evil, but the Apple’s rejection made him feel a terrible sense of guilt.

“Would you like me to leave, father?” the Worm asked the Apple.

“Yes,” cried the Apple.

He pondered this possibility. As far as the Apple was aware, nowhere else existed.

“Where would you go?” the Apple queried.

“I could try and find another Apple,” sobbed the Worm, scared of going out alone into the outside world, about which he knew nothing.

The Apple felt a sudden pang of jealousy at the mention of another Apple, and also grain of sympathy for his Worm. Perhaps he had been a little hasty. The Worm might not find another apple and then what would the parasite do? After all, the Worm was his creation and had grown from the consciousness of his very own flesh.

With a sigh, the Apple reconciled himself to hosting the Worm and his anger abated. He remembered when his existence had been without consciousness of new life; when his state of being an apple was so beautiful, radiant and pure and yet so formless and alone. Now, he had learned to love a friend, and because he had watched the progress of the Worm, the Apple had also become aware of the passage of time. Over their lifetimes together, the Apple and the Worm had slipped through the seasons, sharing Summer’s progress into Autumn.

With a flash of insight, the Apple suddenly knew that he had no purpose without the Worm. His sacrifice was great, but without the Worm, his life had no meaning.

The Worm spoke.

“Dearest Apple, you must understand that we are one. I am your flesh and I am your child. We must live like this, in a mutually beneficial relationship for although I depend on you, in many ways, you depend on me, too,” he remarked.

The Apple was impressed with these words. His Worm understood how they were inseparable. Only fear and guilt caused him to think that they were divided.

A wind picked up. A mighty apple tree shook his branches. The Apple containing the Worm fell to the ground.

“Dear Apple and Worm, you are both a necessary part of my love affair with the earth and sky. You are both a part of me. Through you, my purpose is fulfilled and I hold you both in the blessings of my woody old heart.”

The Apple was filled with contentment. With the help of the Worm, his browned and wrinkled body would gladly decay to form a warm, moist bed for harbouring new seed growth during the following Spring. He sank thankfully into the mossy ground and acknowledged his parent tree and the soil on which he rested.

Inside the warm comforting flesh of the Apple, a small, well- ripened Apple pip whispered to the tight brown chrysalis encased beside him in the rotten core, ‘See you in next year, friend.’