I figured his revised, more "real" round earth heliocentric cosmogony could be just as beautiful and poetic as the Silm flat earth-sun-and-moon-from-fruit scenario.

You won't hear me disagree. There is a great deal of beauty in either version (and by virtue of reality, a lot more in the latter, I suspect), but still. I know it's a gut reaction and probably a hefty dose of primacy effect... definitely time for a reread.