Читать книгу Mystery Without Rhyme or Reason - Michael Coffey - Страница 20

Lent 1 A

Genesis 2:15–17, 3:1–7

Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. (Gen 3:7)

We can gather at that coffee shop you love

and after a currant scone and a second cup

I can say to you: I’ll be Adam, and you can be Eve

and we’ll run naked through the orchard free

We can relish our innocence fresh and unaware

as we pluck berries and sit sunlit, grass on skin

discovering again what our bodies are made for

and why we love being just ourselves so

I can follow a slick snake down the unbeaten path

and you can stop and listen to his cues and queries

we can follow him to the tree of knowing

and eat and slurp the juice from our lips and chins

Then we can know and know that we know

and we can cover up and blush and hide ourselves

from our true selves, from the holy within and without

we stumble and fall, lose the gate key and walk on

Later, when grace appears and envelops us

we give thanks that we failed

and knowing we failed, we celebrate becoming,

the letting go of having been

Next morning we rise and walk out fully dressed

we gather at the café, smiling at our hidden nude selves

and I say to you: I’ll be Adam, and you can be Eve

and you nod and sip and off we go into the day