Paradise was lost long before our time, yet I cannot help but be fascinated with it. Sometimes I play the events over in my mind. This poem is part of that movie in my head.
Paradise:
beauty unimaginable.
Flowers
all colors
all combinations
deep green leaves
dancing in the breezes
dew drops sleeping
in the cradle of roses
rocked by breezes
to the mockingbird’s song.
Rivers ran clean
swarming with fish
of all kinds.
Tall, mighty trees
home for birds
in harmony they dwelt
symphony unmatched.
Anteaters
Armadillos
Bears
Buffaloes
Cats
Caterpillars
Chameleons
Chimpanzees
Dogs
Donkeys
Elephants
Eagles
Giraffes
Horses
Hippos
Lions
Mice
Monkeys
Orangutans
Rhinos
Tigers
Zebras
All lived
in one family
in total peace.
Paradise indeed.
No tears
No sickness
No weapons
No drugs
No sorrow
No death.
Pain
Anger
Malice
Bitterness
Greed
unheard of.
Peace so perfect
Joy so complete.
Evening came.
Elohim came
for His evening walk
with Adam and Eve
they talked and laughed
shared their joy
untouched by self.
Adam and Eve
reigned over the earth
unlimited power
in mind and soul.
God gave them authority to rule
the entire earth
Garden of Eden
Paradise.
Then one day
Eve strolled out alone
for a morning walk.
“Where are you going?”
Adam asked.
This she never did before,
going alone
Adam was puzzled
“She wants to be alone;
let it be,”
he said to himself.
The devil made a bargain
with the snake
“I will make you a god
if you talk for me.”
And so he did.
Controlled by Satan
the snake talked to Eve
as she strolled along
in the Garden alone
“Eve, look at this fruit
so tasty, so fresh.
Pluck and eat.
You will like it.”
“Oh, no,
I can’t do that
for God said
not to eat that fruit,”
Eve replied.
“Don’t be fooled by God, Eve.”
The snake talked
with a convincing look
“You will become like God
if you eat this fruit.
That is why God told you
not to eat it.
He is selfish.”
She looked around
and with trembling hands
she plucked the fruit
forbidden by God.
She bit into it
died inside
and lost her innocence.
All is lost.
She ran back to Adam
shaking and trembling
holding the rest
of the fruit in her hand.
“What have you done?”
Adam asked.
She didn’t have to say
He knew it all.
Now he must choose
to live in Paradise
or to sin and lose all
to be cut off from God’s life!
For the love of a woman
he chose
He opened his arms
embraced her
her head resting on his shoulder
she held him tight.
He took the fruit
bit into it
chose to die.
Full of shame
guilt
lost innocence
naked
They looked for cover.
Evening came.
Elohim came
to walk with them.
They couldn’t be found.
“Where are you?”
God asked.
“We have sinned,
and we have hidden away
from your face!”
God was grieved
He loved them so much
His children
separated from Him
by sin.
Now they would know
sickness and sorrow
pain and agony
tears and hurt
death and separation.
Hand in hand
Adam and Eve walked out
through the gate
their backs to God
to suffer and die.
Paradise lost.
God stood still
deeply hurt
He said to Himself,
“Some day
I will
see them
again.”
KP Yohannan. “Paradise Lost.”Dance Not for Time. GFA Books, 2013, p. 34.
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