Page 52

By Jack Joseph Smith

2 We crept across the orchard passing under bristling leaves that sometimes: wound their way down to earth on string branches; Even crewling, I could touch and twist thems And here and thelyt weuld see a: thistle thinking true battle-would be-to wrap its-thorns around my wrists Everything wae het and sweet and wen ‘@ problem with the pollen thick in the aire. Nee} ; Nebedy snease, we said; The tree was-really full and it was one of the ones nearest, to the ry,ins ef the hemeg Nearer we-came with eur eyes bright with outrageous: sengs The | shembles-leoked empty, AY we could feel the spirit ef the place gripping our hearts; We all’ de hteauna the greund teuching the trunk and looking up up at the apples-with the presence of Mr, Metzes-all around UBe intl and : I began climbing up the tree and the others followeé ugs We went different directions toward the ends ef the many limbs. Where is hes a little girl voice saidg Maybe he isn't here, said a little bey sighing Oh yeshe is, or he will be here pretty soon, said we, that wax Danisi and Z meg T leeked around at all of then and me and Danial too, We all were munching > big apples-with the Yhite juce becoming orange on our cheeksg Our breathing was warm and seft with a oneness living deepiwithingthe lungs: of everyenes We began to ferget Mr, Metzes-and our minds: went flo&ting aveurdaeid around beneath the reund sun; Seen we-were all’ giggling: and turning our neses up at one anojithers Hehehe lovely children in the forbidden apphe free, Lost and in leve with ourselves in worlless harmeny; Hey everybody, lets-take our clethes off?

Original Scan

Page 52

AI Interpretation

GPT

Once they reach the tree and begin eating, fear loosens into sweetness, giggling, and bodily daring until the apple raid becomes a small, ecstatic republic high in the branches.

The orchard scene shifts quickly from stealth to abundance, and the apples' juice, pollen, heat, and laughter dissolve the earlier ghost story into a more innocent sensuality. The sudden proposal to take clothes off feels less rebellious than curious, as if the children are testing how far freedom can go before the place answers back.

Claude

The children climb and the pollen thickens — nobody sneeze — until someone proposes taking their clothes off, the suggestion landing as giggling forbidden song among the red apples.