baptism of eve
by Regina Coupar

she comes to the
sacred tree
and stops
to kneel before it

the man 
and the serpent
watch
as she
removes her
shoes

they wait
as she walks
closer to the
tree

don't eat it
hisses the snake
it is forbidden

the man is silent
he stands back
and watches

she picks up
the ripened fruit
it is lush
filled with
the juices of life
she eats
and her mouth
tingles

it is sour
and sweet
and bitter and fragrant
and soft and sharp

her lips are sticky
her thirst is quenched

she savours it
in her mouth
moving it slowly from side to side
from front to back
as the snake
and the man
watch on
hungrily
jealously
fearfully

she holds out the fruit
to them
they step forward
timidly
but stop
when they hear
a great thundering
roar

looking to the sky
they see the heavens
open
and a great raven
descending

the raven
circles the tree
and lands gently
upon the shoulder
of eve

a deafening voice
rings out quietly
this is my daughter
whom I love
and with whom
I am well pleased

listen to her
for she has
the knowledge of good
and of evil
she is the knower
of wisdom
and the doer of
all that is truly just

she is most like me
because she
sought me
and I will reward her
with the most sacred
blessing

because of you
my daughter
your body
and your daughters' 
bodies
will sing
in harmony with
the rhythm of the 
universe

this day
I will set a light 
in the night sky
which will guide
you in wisdom
and truth
your body will wax
and wane
following the cycles of
the moon
reminding you
that the sacred
rhythm
has been planted
inside you

each month
streams of blood
will pour from you
as your birthing powers
are renewed

the heavens
and the earth
will rejoice
as their daughters
and sons
are given life
through you

take the man
and the snake
and make your home
east of Eden
knowing that you carry
paradise within you

share your gift with
the world
teach your daughters and sons
the sacred secrets of
the universe

the woman looked to the sky
and to the earth
she saw that her feet had
rooted in the earth
and the sky
had mingled with her hair

she turned to the
man and the snake
and said
i am Eve
this day I have become
woman
I have been given the joys
and treasures
of all that is
that they might
be shared

I am the bridge between
heaven and earth
I am before and
beyond all time
I am here
to bring you life
I am your mother
your child
your sister
your lover
your friend

the man and the
snake felt
love
and moved
toward her

Eve embraced them
with open arms
feeding them
with her fruit
comforting them
with her branches
and releasing them
to walk through
her hair
into heaven

(c) Regina Coupar 1997