But there is another version of green bottles concerning story of a condemned criminal. When asked about his last request, man, intent on delaying his death, asked to be allowed to sing Ten Million Green Bottles Hanging on Wall. They obliged him. The executioner slept and woke. And after 4 weeks condemned singer was somewhere around nine million nine thousand and something green bottles. It is an interesting version of song. Yet, song ended and singer of longest song in history kept his date with hangman.

Everything about this world is refuse—plain waste. Sleep, wake, and finally expire. Even if you were singing Ten Billion Green Bottles, song would end someday and you would get your deserved quietus. So if you have not done your will, indite it, NOW! Because you—one of ten, no, six billion green bottles hanging on wall—will soon dead-crash to mother earth, waiting for beneficiaries of your will to bring rear. Your only last honor is red earth—that is if you are not some Hindu who would rather their corpse was cremated and scattered in Ganges.

But fact is that red earth is in short supply these days. Man's final place of repose seems to be a dark, oily earth. He that didn't oil his lips alive because of poverty, is now soaked eternally—bones and all—in a cemetry polluted by crude oil spills. That is if he wasn't buried in a shallow, watery grave—the country graveyards are flooded now (no thanks to global warming). What then is your inheritance in this earth, you son of Adam?

For soon you are going to lie on your deathbed and wish that your loved ones saved you from cold hands of Death.But they would not be able—only content to watch your last moments and close your eyes.

Or soon you are to sit beside a dying friend, your child, wife or husband. And they would implore you to rescue them from Last Visitor. But you would only shed tears of shame and see them off to sheol, and live forever in disgrace—the torment of your inability to deliver a dear one from hades' door.

So, when next you hear your little ones sing about those ten green bottles hanging on wall, never nod your head in approbation or tap your feet ecstatically on floor to rhythm of innocent poem. Nor should it ever cross your mind that GREEN is a symbol of regeneration or longevity. Like "everlasting" sequoia tree of North America that can tarry for centuries. Rather, is about YOUR LAST RITES. That, I think, is metaphor of green bottles, hanging—precariously—on wall!

ARTHUR ZULU is an editor, book reviewer, author of "CHASING SHADOWS!" "HOW TO WRITE A BESTSELLER" and "A LETTER TO NOAH" soon to be published by Authorhouse. Goto: http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/21013 Mailto: mostcontroversialwriter@yahoo.com For his works and FREE articles, use search engines and search "ARTHUR ZULU"

The value of hearing God is that it saves lives. I recall time that God told me to pray for a certain Dee Jay (Strawberry Jan) that used to be on KEZY 1190 AM. He told me that she was in danger and I was to pray for her often. So I did, even though I didn't know her, and knew nothing of her personal or professional life. Six years later she was nearly killed by a drunk driver on freeway. Finally about 15 years later I met Strawberry Jan in person. I am certain that my prayers were central to God's plan to save her life in that accident, prevent certain injuries and lessen others during years.

If you are courageous and want to hear God, then contact me toll free at (877) 230-0100 or by email at sgtrepo@comcast.net A Mark B. Replogle Article / October 2004

All rights reserved. Copyright Ó 2004 by Mark B. Replogle

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