Eve and the Apple

“Don’t eat the apple,” Father said,

“Or I will have to banish you from our home.”

A fate worse than death

Or so it seemed

To be cut off from everything

That I had ever known

I could think of nothing worse

***

“Eat the apple,” hissed the serpent,

Tickling my ear,

“And you will gain all the Knowledge

Of Father Himself.”

The promise sounded so tantalizing

The red fruit shined so tauntingly

Certainly one bite

Wouldn’t hurt

***

The juices spilled down my face and throat

I closed my eyes in ecstasy

Never had a single bite been so satisfying

And as I opened my eyes again

I saw colors that I had never conceived of

In my life

Smelled fragrances I had never dreamt of

Felt the grass tickle every molecule in my feet—

Knew the word molecule for the first time!

Knowledge like this had to be shared,

And so share it I did

***

I knew we should not have hid

But with the joy came fear—

Fear like I had never felt before

And would never feel again

And when Father found us

I knew it was justified

By the anger in His voice

***

And so we left the only home we ever knew

And we lamented all that we had lost

But when I looked forward toward the setting sun

And saw those colors that I had not known back home

I knew that I did not regret the loss

For I had gained the world