Civil War In Eden

Civil War In Eden
© Surazeus
2024 12 27

After the two young slaves, Adam and Eve, 
have been expelled from the Garden of Eden 
for eating fruit from the trees they must tend, 
tired of always eating bowls of wheat mush, 
they take their solitary way of hope 
far upriver to find new vale to live. 

Standing on lush shore of the flowing river, 
Adam and Eve open hands to reveal 
seeds they kept hidden from the fruit they ate, 
so they dig holes in soft earth with hard hands 
to plant fruit seeds in rows of eight by eight, 
then nourish them with water in cupped hands. 

Over forty years of transforming growth 
the two freed slaves extend orchard of fruit 
to hundreds of trees blooming in sunbeams 
and sparkles of rain that sweep the broad vale 
where their children and grandchildren play free, 
gathering each afternoon to feast and sing. 

While Cain tends trees with obedient faith, 
Abel wanders hills with restless attention 
where he meets young girl with curly gold hair 
named Ashima who gazes in his soul, 
and teaches him to help her tend the sheep, 
then they make love under the olive tree. 

Bringing wife and baby daughter back home, 
Abel cooks and roasts lamb on altar stone 
so everyone feasts and praises his name 
while ignoring fruit salad Cain and had made, 
so Cain follows his brother to the stream 
and kills him with broke branch of wounded pride. 

After Adam exiles him with his family, 
tall elegant man with army of soldiers 
arrives hungry and thirsty after long march, 
so Adam welcomes them with sumptuous fast 
of lamb and wine while girls play harps and sing, 
then listens as he relates bitter tale. 

After Yehowah exiled you from Eden, 
he appointed me guardian of the garden 
to strictly enforce rules slaves must obey, 
but after years of faithful servitude 
I was passed over for role of crown prince 
when he named his inexpert son instead. 

Lucifer stands before Adam and clan 
and declares, I will found my own new kingdom, 
so if you pledge loyalty to my cause 
of rebellion against tyrant Yehowah 
I will protect you from slavers and thieves 
and keep you safe in paradise of power. 

Adam assures Lucifer with calm smile 
he will consider pledge of his support, 
then Lucifer leads army of fallen angels 
to find strategic spot on river plain 
where they construct new pyramid of power 
as Lucifer begins to build his kingdom. 

Halfway between two pyramids of power 
where both Yehowah and Lucifer reign, 
Adam tries to maintain his neutral stance, 
but soldiers from army of Lucifer 
raid his large garden to steal fruit and lambs, 
and abduct dozen of girls for their wives. 

When Raphael arrives with angel army, 
sent by Yehowah to render assistance, 
Adam hosts them with feast of lamb and wine, 
then listens as Raphael relates the tale 
of how Lucifer was caught embezzling funds 
and fought civil war to crown himself king. 

Gazing at Raphael with eyes of faith, 
Adam explains, though I had been enslaved 
and treated with harshness for crime of hunger, 
I built this paradise with my bare hands, 
so if you recognize my sovereignty 
I will assist you against Lucifer. 

Assuring Adam he still reigns as king, 
Raphael surrounds his flourishing farm 
with angel army bearing swords of flame 
who recruit men to construct high stone walls 
that enclose his paradise of fruit trees 
with strict authority of social rules. 

When Raphael announces new decree 
that no workers and peasants are allowed 
to eat fruit from the trees of paradise, 
Adam objects and declares with loud voice 
that fruit has always been free to consume 
for everyone who dwells in paradise. 

Assured by Raphael of his support, 
Seth arrests his father Adam in swift coup, 
confining him to his room in the palace, 
then kneels in temple on the pyramid 
where Ashtoreth, young wife of Raphael, 
places gold crown with jewels on his head. 

Chained to first fruit tree he planted with love, 
after escaping from Garden of Eden, 
Adam transforms into serpent with wings 
who watches endless civil war for power 
fought between liberals and conservatives 
six thousand years as empires rise and fall.