I knew that they would try to hide,
	When I came down at eventide,
To walk the garden I had made,
	For him and her, this lovely glade.

I called his name to see if he,
	Would come to me or try to flee
From shame of knowing I am here,
	Or simply out of abject fear.

I called again "Where are you man?"
	Of course, I knew, but understand,
I wanted him to face the fact,
	That he had done a sinful act.

Heads bowed low, privates covered,
	They emerged ... the serpent hovered,
Sneering on a limb above them,
	Waiting to hear me condemn.

I said to Adam, "Why'd you hide?"
	"We're naked, and ashamed", he cried.
"You always were but felt no shame.
	Tell me, what or who's to blame?"

The wife I'd given him, he named,
	Then she, in turn, the serpent blamed.
I'd warned them, "Don't eat from that tree!
	Or you'll be dead, eternally."

But they had eaten anyway,
	Now they faced the time to pay.
"You listened to the serpent's lie.
	Now you are lost and you will die."

I put my curse on every one;
	Serpent, woman, man, and done
I banished them and sent them east,
	To live a life much like a beast.

When they were gone I locked the gate,
	To keep out Adam and his mate.
For in there grew the tree of Life,
	The antidote for human strife.

Too bad that they would never know,
	The glories I had planned to show.
My gift of life was now for naught.
	An end in Hades, they had bought.

If they repent, I will forgive.
	I'll let them have a chance to live.
Some future time I'll make a way,
	For them to come to me and stay,

In my domain beyond the sky,
	Where those I love will never die.
A sacrifice to cleanse the earth,
	And make a way for man's rebirth.