what was it like to lie
with fruit seeds still in your mouth? did the sin
taste sweet, at least? i envy you, eve
the way you witnessed the world
before your own undoing
you are the mother of
all things. of motherhood. of pain.
of indulgence. of imperfection. of prodigy. of ego & doubt.
humankind was built open ur tired shoulders
& within your tender womb, & you must've felt
the exact moment ur body broke
& gave up on itself, into the tearing, into the breaking,
into the screams you bellowed out
as you gave the world another child.
do you love all of your children?
do you still dream about the garden?
about the woman you were before
when you still roamed paradise, unburdened
& innocent?
i look into your wild eyes
full of fear & death
& wonder about the world,
& about that tree, & snake, & gods hands
striking upon your brown cheek.
i stare at adam beside you.
at the way his hands grip your arms.
at the adam's apple that sits
in the middle of his throat.
he stays silent,
but his face gives it away.
i finally have my answer.
