Pistol Clear Beneath the Branches of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

“Adam knew Eve his wife, and . . .”  Genesis 4:1

In autumn nights the waters of the stream

Are Christ’s own clarity.  The moon shines through

Them clearer than in Eve’s first evening dream

In Eden when all waters were still true

Despite what Adam did to her that first

Night underneath the fervent fruit trees that God

Had planted for the man to find and burst

His way inside her leaving woman awed

Beneath the orchard limbs.  No winter yet

Had shown its clarity of ice.  No spring

Had played the clarity of spring’s duet

Of white and green when Adam gave that sting.

  No summer yet had caused clear heat inside

    His wife — but then came thrust and slide.