The Architecture of the Apple Tree – Timothy Arliss O’Brien

As she was chasing the apple down the hill she wondered if the day could get any better. Her sojourn through the desert depleted her of the most important things. Those people who deplete every thought of identity one could find important.

The sky looked down on her like a mother bear, protective and soft; angry and violent. Times like this when she was alone reminded her of the possibilities to be anyone. Anywhere.

That one time we found that money on the ground and spent it on happiness.
Hopefully I won’t remember that night.

Some people come here just to hate us. Some people don’t understand themselves and get offended at the way life happens.
“We all have choices, but yours are not as important as theirs.
And don’t ever you forget that darling.”
The most fucked up thing I’ve heard.

She only loved him as much as she could. Her brain didn’t handle it.
Cosmic.
Catalyst.
Catatonic.

Is he happy now? Oh yes he is.
You have no idea how he blossomed. The sky was a better protector for him than it will ever be for you.
Sadness knows no bounds as it did for her.

But now he is
L
O
V
E
D.

We can move on.
We can hold hands.
We may be happy.
(We have permission.)

The things that are important talk to us louder,
and speak to us kinder,
and show us our value better.

Believe you me,
We will be fine and we have already eaten the apple.
No one can ever poison us.




Timothy Arliss O’Brien is an interdisciplinary artist in music composition,
writing, and visual arts. His goal is to connect people to accessible new
music that showcases virtuosic abilities without losing touch of authentic
emotions. He has premiered music with The Astoria Music Festival,
Cascadia Composers, Sound of Late’s 48 hour Composition Competition
and ENAensemble’s Serial Opera Project. He also wants to produce writing
that connects the reader to themselves in a way that promotes wonder and
self realization. He has published several novels (Dear God I’m a Faggot,
They), and has written for Look Up Records (Seattle), Our Bible App,
and Deep Overstock: The Bookseller’s Journal. He has also combined his
passion for poetry with his love of publishing and curates the podcast The
Poet Heroic. Check out more of his writing, and his full discography at his
website: www.timothyarlissobrien.com

Leave a Reply