THE FALL OF MAN PART !
EVE'S ACCOUNT
Apologise? No, never! Yet to make clear
what happened, how it seemed, what came about,
that would erase the blurring edge of doubt
concerning motive, the impalpable smear.
Seduced by a snake? You must think me a fool.
Oh, certainly he smarmed and charmed, but I
retained my balance, smiled to see him try
his frauds, those cheats aimed to make me his tool.
By reason led (God-given after all)
I figured that the fruit could not bring death:
the serpent ate and I watched him draw breath;
no apple caused that earth-bound snake to fall.
I weighed it mentally: the proscribed tree
would give me knowledge - worth a risk or two
to Adam's helpmeet, Adam's rib: it's true
that I was pleased the serpent first chose me.
And what was my restraint? Obedience!
The tamest virtue, bland and ignorant.
I chose to slough my role as sycophant,
flattering by aping his omniscience.
And so I ate and Adam followed suit,
then shopped me straightaway; that's when I knew
woman's peripheral and central too:
she might as well enjoy forbidden fruit.
