with their dull monotony
the bees opened my days Adam

the bees & the flowers
they pollinate.

the unknown lake
fed by the Euphrates
an eye where we took
our singular places
beside waters
of faux enlightenment.

But this glorious & servile life
offers no choice –
resigned as we are to years
beneath His low-lying stars.

He divided our light into darkness.
I could not go deeper
into the wet grass of dawn
while counting the reasons
to keep my distance
from the snake.

Serpent,
my solicitous adder –

bring me my apple.