There--by the cobble, the Serpent lies
Split was His tongue, black were His eyes.
Making His advance, I should have denied
But the words He spake were clever and wise.
He whispered to me, "Why do ye toil and cry
Serving a Being Who commands on High?
Does ye know, this Being, He is not nigh?
And all His decrees-- so capricious and wry!
For, you are hungry; eat! You will not die.
This is the sustenance to keep thee spry."
Reason spake within me, "Shan't I water that which is dry?
"The tree giveth fruit, shan't it be mine?"
With Reason, I plucked the fruit and gave it a try.
And Sudden-ly, I felt the Breath come on by
Thy Heavenly Father breathed the eternal sigh
For another child lost to the temptation as old as time.
There--by the cobble, the Serpent Lies.