eastward, in Eden

❧

(be that woman)

eastward, in Eden

what,

and quite possibly who

might we discover

dust off and uncover

if we ventured

eastward into Eden?

a tree ...

with roots gnarled and pushed deep

into the flesh of the earth,

woven and bound

into the cultural memory of mankind.

its boughs weighted with offerings

of knowledge

swaying and creaking under the unbearable weight

of all that is and has ever been,

evil and good

a fruit ...

eye blindingly golden, imagined ruby red

whose very flesh offers

and makes promises

of knowledge, immortality, temptation, health

love

learning, yearning

beauty

luck

and wealth

a serpent ...

coiled at the tree's trunk

encircling its waist

beguiling and sleek.

moving as water does - that liquid opal

mercurial, dangerous.

using God's fruit

to coax, to dare, to court

intrigue

ensnare

with rousings

of earthly pleasures

sensuality, sexuality, virility and fertility

a man.

a WOMAN … !

a woman who could have been me

and lovlier you

why is it believed that she faltered and stumbled

in a moment of weakness,

when in reality

she acted alone

held up of her own bones.

she took the initiative

made her own decision

born from a deep seeded desire

for tenderness

and the purest

of affections.

yes,

a sort of

'original expression'

for she was only striving

to achieve blessing

and to gain a fuller experience

of life

in its entirety

to inhale it

feel it

as deeply as she might

to the depths of her core

all of it

Heavenly

and not.

so why?

why shouldn't we

be more like her

that woman,

Eve.

our foremother

who far in the East

taught us of the human desire

of the simplest but most profound need

to embrace the world

and ingest experience

without restraint ...

who reached for the fruit

and enjoyed

every bittersweet bite.

why shouldn't you be that woman

in your own Eden

in the East

of right here

and now?

i've opened a NEW Etsy shop in my own name ...