Adam's End

H. C. Sluys

Through the desert from the East
He drags past with fallen stealth
His youth behind
Eden ahead

Creeping back
Creeping back
Crawling back to paradise

Hoping Uriel stays his hand
To evade the flash of orange
Red flame burning silver sword

His corpse-like arms will drag him in
Tracing a trail of trials
Like a serpent
Over the gritty wastes

His bony hands feel grass at last
Lifting his countenance
He sees no bright angel
A fierce horror
Stands regal--
The cherubim of old

Hooves crush bone
Wings of justice spread their judgment

Creatures with Adam's face
Grind him to nothing

The garden just beyond
Lies covered in the bloody tears of God
Teardrops trickle between the trees
To slough away the dust of his creation.

March 1, 2006