defeating the lion, he enters the gate
and upon reaching the tree
the serpent swallows the apple

with whispering eyes he speaks -
"fear not" as the feathers sprout
displacing glimmering scales

the earth-bound is released
strong wings lift the slithering skyward
his flat view of the world annihilated

ouroboros halos appear like shadows
forever attached but never owned
he sees the world  impaled on herself

and now, freed from eden
he enters the garden of the mother
and knows that he and she are one

the bitter fruit of the blessed tree
transformed the snake into an eagle
reborn, he sees the world anew