The Ten Apples of Life and Manchineel-The Ten "Little Apples of Death."

The Ten Apples of Life and Manchineel-

The Ten “Little Apples of Death.”

The Ten Apples of Life:

Be peaceable with those around you

war song, you must not sing,

war drum- you must not beat;

rather, let your word reflect peace,

let your conduct show peace, and

let your action seek and pursue Peace.

Embrace love, but hate you must

distaste,

love everyone,  but hate no one,

your enemies, you must love,

those who curse you, you must bless;

let love defines your thoughts,

let love dwells in you, and

let Love re-creates You.

Endure under trials,

succumb, never!

Endurance is a refining-Fire-

it discovers and manifests

the good in you,

capitulation is a death-hole,

which de-activates the good

in You.

Forgiveness-a visible therapy-

that heals the injured soul, and

returns the heart to a healthy status;

un-forgiven spirit is a gangrening

that shrinks and kills the soul.  

A humble heart is an

odorous smell that draws

every sort of men nearer,

but a prideful heart is an

odious smell that scares

everyone away.

A humble or courteous heart

is very receptive,

leading to goals and aspirations,

but a boastful heart hardens soul,

as impolite behaviors truncate  

upward movement.

A gentle soul draws water from a flint,

but a harsh or a mean heart barely gets

water from the river or the ocean;

a warmhearted soul is a magnet

with a significant force of pull,

but a callous and agitated soul is

a repellant that drives and pushes

people away;

a moderate soul is an asset,

un-feeling soul is a liability.

Altruist is a man-of-the-people,

a self-centered has no one to call

his own;

a benevolence soul is blessed,

but a mean soul is accursed.   

Goodness surrounds its owner

with goodwill,

cruelty drives people away;

goodness, yes-kindness un-locks  

deep heart and closed mind,

but evil and corruption closes

heart without the option to re-open.

Truth opens the way to a genuine

healing,

but lie for-closes the path to

a permanent  healing;

Truth builds and sustains trust,

Lies destroy Trust.

Faith keeps one going on a

tough highway,

doubt truncates  journey.

Faith, yes-hope and assurance-

takes you beyond today,

but put future before you;

Disbelief, yes-distrust takes

today off your mind-

replace it with Yesterday.

Meekness the vehicle-of-change.

Here comes the ten apples of

 life and ten-

“little apples of death.”

Where do you belong?