THE door of Heaven open seemed
And in thy house the sunlight gleamed.
As through the garden’s willow’d walks I hied
Full many a tree and blossom I espied.
But of all trees, the Apple Tree most fair
And beautiful did unto me appear.
It sobbed and wept. Its leaves said murmuringly :
” I would that God had ne’er created me !
The badge of sin and wickedness I am
E’en at thy feast, O Father Abraham.
The apple growing on me first
From Eden came ere it was cursed,
Alas, alas, I am undone !
Why fell I to that evil one ? “
Armenian legends and poems by Zabelle C. Boyajian and Aram Raffi, London & New York, 1916.