Hundreds of thousands of generations later,

God still punishes Eve.

            You, woman of his rib, you are doomed to love this man--
                        Destined to crave to return to that place, to that origin, to that love.
                                    You, his side, always.

He, hollow chest, empty where you are full
Love spilling over and into saucer from cup
Bleeding that love for him, redder than juice of berry and
            sweeter than forbidden fruit.

And still, you—you are not enough.

You wanted fruit.

He wanted more.
            More than you, more than this love, more than this flesh offered to him
            Laid bare upon the earth, naked flesh
            Beating, breathing, living sacrifice is not enough.

You should not have eaten the flesh of the fruit
But since, he has consumed the sweeter flesh yet—
And your love far easier obtained.
Sweeter still he seeks.

You just wanted to seduce his hedonism;
                        please this man
            Come, eat, share with me.
            And you, punished twice for sharing.

You, Eve
God has given you shame
And dress to cover your shame
And pain to know that it is not enough to be sorry

                        Nor is it enough to be in love. 

k.j.