Carrie L. Slone

Eve's Dilemma

‘Both read the bible day and night; but you read black where I read white’

      William Blake

No memories exist before this garden.

We are the only two of our kind, my

husband tells me there’s another

who visits him, but all I hear at night

is the wind through these tall trees. Animals

speaking to me is a daily pleasure, the serpent

walks with me, keeping me company

while my husband wanders through gardens,

looking for creatures and vegetation

he has forgotten to name.

Lucifer tells me there’s more than this foliage.

A tree standing in the middle of all this paradise

bears fruit that will open up the world to me.

There must be more to this life sentence.

Adam was told to leave the apples alone,

but I am under no such obligation.

To stay here is death.

I am mother of the living.