Lament for the apples of Eve

I gave an apple to the gods,
under the sky so blue,
I took a crunchy bite
sweet as kissing you.

I threw an apple to the sea
It floated on mother arms of brine
Dark bottles of prophecy
Wise, bedraggled sun-washed wood
bleached by water and sky.

I gave an apple to
a woman, masked of heart,
she threw it hard
it clanged against the cobblestones
red as she walked away...

I sat down heavily by the sea
let the brine crust over blankets, too weary
to care.

I watched the light wash thinly
from the sky.

The air in coils above the water,
emptied all smell,
until

bright, shiny,
crackly frothing apple
smooth and full of jealous promise
floats back on the limp
arms of coiling sea brine.