The Fruits Of Their Labours, by The Apple Zed (2024)

1.

The last of the truly great explorersI’ve seen all that the world has to show meBut now, the dream grows coldMy life needs a new goalAnd I feel something that’s calling me deep in my soulI feel the pull of the engine, and I hear the clack of the wheelsI see the train as it flows over miles of steelI could be a truly great conductorMake sure that the trains run on timeI’ve wandered the world. Now, my path lies before meIn contoured, parallel lines

2.

"Johnny Boy's A Hero," all my hometown papers readI was frightened all that fuss would go straight to my headNever wanted guts or glory. I had always said,"Let me serve my country unbeknownst"Gave it time and sure enough, my neighbors grew distractedBy the trials and tribulations normalcy reenactedAll I dwelled upon was one small victory exactedI made the Reaper tremble in his bonesDid I stare Death down? I damn well emptied out his pocketsTold him where to stick that scythe, and spat in his eye socketsTo this day, I'm even-keeled while his contempt skyrocketsThat's the only victory I cravedMany years have gone, and I've grown older all the whileProud to blend into a crowd, I'm merely rank and fileTo maintain my namelessness, I'll go the extra mileAnd from death my spirit will be savedDid I stare Death down? Didn't I? Can't I?Was it just a wet dream? So much for swimming upstreamHas he gotten the best of me?Did I stare Death down? Didn't I? Can't I?I damn well stood my ground, relentlessNo shame in that. I won't repent thisThere must be some way to prevent thisThe doctor says it's mostly hopelessLord, how can this be? Dear God, why me?"Johnny Boy's A Hero," all my hometown papers readNow my hometown papers all will read that Johnny's dead

3.

Lighting flashes as the storm gathers round. I know the tracks will be slickCan’t let the train get out of control; I gotta think quickSee the red lights burning, and I fly right by them, screaming engine tempting fatePassengers depending on me - can’t be late!Off in the distance, a shadowy form emerges from out of the rainBlinded by the storm, oblivious to the oncoming trainI hit the brakes, and they screech a futile song into the night skyI swear I see engine number 144 reflected in terrified eyesAnd so an innocent dies“Trial of the century!” screams the newsman on TVJustice turned to vengeance in The People vs. MeJury turns and glares with hatred when they see the widow cryI know the truth can’t set me free, and so I lieI swear I never saw the shadowy form emerging from out of the rainI was blinded by the storm and I couldn’t stop the trainIf I could go back and change things I would, but there’s no way to turn back timeThis railway of life is a one-way express, from birth to the end of the lineHe reached his, and someday I’ll reach mineMy heart’s pounding, and I hope that no one sees I’m drenched in sweatI told my tale, tried to stay outta jail, but I’m not safe yetThe time has come to deliberate. I watch the jury as they standAnd file from the courtroom with my future in their hands"We the jury find that you are guilty to the coreOf gross incompetence and vile murder. Furthermore,Your lies bespeak remorselessness beyond all absolutionAnd so, we sentence you to death by electrocution"

4.

Guess it's finally time to goGreet the Reaper, my old foeWish him well, stand at his sideTake his victory in strideHe's been gracious in defeatHumoring such stark conceitIt should be time to meet my fateYet in mercy he abatesHow shall I use the clemency the Reaper gives?What shall I do with only two more weeks to live?Have I regrets or wanderlust to gratify?How could I forget those days? A young man, stationed overseasCame upon a small cafe, its perfume wafting in the breezeHe walked inside and took a seat. The waitress smiled and co*cked her headHe craved a pastry, rich and sweet. Her blue eyes glistened and she said,"Brave soldier, I know just the thing you're hungry forAnd I guarantee you'll hunger for it evermoreBut when you do, remember even the smallest slice will satisfy you"Placed before me was a beaconOf golden light. My hunger weakenedBefore I even had to take a biteGuess it's finally time to go and find the land I left behindGreet the Reaper, my old foe, and thank my stars he is so kindWish him well, stand at his side, soon as I've ordered my affairsTake his victory in stride, once I've managed to ensnareThat Golden Apple pieI will taste its flesh again. I will taste its crust againI will taste it one more time before I --

5.

“The time has come,” the warden said, “for tomorrow, you will dieSo choose your last meal. We’ll sauté anything before you fry”I’d like a pizza, extra cheese, a good Merlot, and for dessertThe rarest fruit I ever found in all my travels on this earthThe Golden AppleI’ll tell you of the quest to find this fruitOn which I went and on which you must goHow after years of futile pursuitI found a secret place that few men knowHigh atop the slopes of KilimanjaroThere is a cave facing the western skyIts entrance buried underneath the snowAnd as the rays of evening sun go byThe cave is lit with an unearthly glowAnd on the walls, strange maps appearThat make the journey’s next step clearAnd so I go! Follow the map to aSmall island in the South Pacific SeaAnd down below, there is a labyrinthBeneath the waves. Oh, how it calls to meHold my breath and start to swimAnd let the current pull me inTurning left and turning rightGuided by an eerie light‘Til at last I reach the island's coreAnd surface in a blue lagoonAnd all around meTrees of Golden Apples bloom

6.

All my possessions finally behind meThere's nothing left that's tying me downThe clicking of the train tracks reminds meOf that tiny, bustling town and its peopleAnd how they did welcome our ranksAnd the hissing of the engine's a godsendReminiscent of the town's re-emergenceWhen it dusted off the remnants of bloodshedAnd started steaming back into a resurgenceIts camaraderie and industry besting those bombers and tanksNot to mention the pie, that succulent dishWhy has it taken this long to recall my one wish?That waitress clearly understood the treasure she servedAnd then, she joined me for another slice. This surprised meI started salivating for her beauty and charmBlues of soft eyes and reds of flowing hair mesmerized meHer gentle manner overwhelming, she did disarm my defensesShe offered her company. I could only offer thanksOn the ship home, what should I receiveBut a letter from my wife, who decided to leave?Was this a turn of events I deserved?How I do wish I'd acted on this infatuationWith this young woman in this lovely oceanfront townI never ventured back amidst my humiliationCowardice turning any chance of happiness downClick of tracks gives way to cracks of thunderStorm derails my happy trails asunderThough I crash into a splashing oceanI'll swim to shore with ever forward motionI know I'll never have another chance at usMy coming back was only bound to be in vainI was so foolish not to take a chance on usOnly the Golden Apple pie will ease my painJohnny Boy will not disembark this derailed train

7.

I awake from a dreamless sleepThe Golden Apple still rich on my tongueAnd oh, it tastes just as sweetHere at the end as when I was youngThe last day I’ll ever see is dawningAnd I rise to meet my fateI walk with head held high toward the chairI’ve made my peace with what’s in storeI know that I have lived as few men dareJust one last horizon to exploreThe last sun I’ll ever see has risenI’m on time for being lateStrap me downPlug me inLet the end begin

8.

Staring down Death in the hell that was warI'd seen no memories, flashbacks, or visionsI only saw myself cowering in fearGasping for breath, seeking only safe shoreI glimpse the images one sees before dyingAs well as myself, suddenly resolute and clearWhy give me such a reprieve two weeks outOnly to cash in as I thrash about?What of my odyssey? Has it no clout?Have you no honor or shame?You took my parents in the prime of their livesAnd I never even had the chance to say goodbyeYou took my best friend, and left me to comfortHis devastated, would-be brideWhy give me warning when others had noneOnly to whisk it away and then run?I've no intention of ceding this oneTwo can play at this war gameAnd I revel at the love I saw firsthandAnd how it shattered in the face of fates unplannedNow this boy in blue is finally going to take a standAgainst your malfeasance, against your malpracticeAgainst your iniquityYou overtook them. No chance of appealAmnesty, pardon, or even last mealBut you exempted me from this ordealDon't you remember?You made this deal. It's not yours to subvertI am entitled to my last dessertCross me, my friend, and hit the dirtI will not stand aside. This deceit I'll defyUntil I taste my Golden Apple pie

9.

Sanctuary on the shore I departed years beforeWaves are dousing, but the rising sun helps dry me in the dawnStaggering aboard a bus along the road that guided usTo a town rebounding from a time of war and pressing onAnd I marvel at the passing sceneryHow it's barely changed, as far as I can seeAll I've done in life is aged. This natural majesty leaves me upstagedCivilization rears its head. There's the marketplace I fledAs a foolish youth, never guessing life back home was goneAnd I marvel at that little, quaint cafeHow it's standing, still, with no sign of decayDare I take a step inside? Hasn't my past fortune died?Suddenly, I'm greeted by a waitress fine and fairAnd her eyes are sparkling blue, and fiery red's her hairShe looks so much like the maiden I did once forswearHave I traveled back in time somehow?Finally, I clear my throat and ask her for a sliceOf her Golden Apple pie, no matter what the priceAnd a tear comes to her eyes. She says, sadly, no diceThey're all out. She has none for me nowGuess it's finally time to go greet the Reaper, my old foeHolding back tears of my own, feeling wretchedly aloneI meet her gaze and nod my head"I guess I'll have the cherry pie instead"

10.

I open my eyes, and I rise with no painThis shouldn’t be possible. It can’t be explained awayA million volts - it should have cooked me like a side of baconYet here I am. Here I have awakenedHow did this happen to me?How did I survive?There’s no conceivable explanationFor how I am aliveA heated debateThis is unprecedentedThe warden demandsThat they throw the switch again!Again I’m unharmed, and their fear begins to showThey ask what my secret is, and I tell them I don’t knowI’ve circled the globe, and I’ve seen things you could only dreamAnd even I have no clue what this meansWhy did this happen to me?Why do I still stand?No Golden Apple can change who I amI’m just a mortal manWho lived my life as best I canI look backOn the life I’ve livedFrom blazing a trailTo riding the railsTo spending my last days in jailAnd as the currentGoes screaming through my brainThe meaning of it allBecomes so clear and plain:I guess I’m justA truly bad…conductor