All day long Eve wearied for the garden.
Not for her the comfort Adam knew
As he watched the wheat-ears slowly harden,
As the plaited roof above him grew.
“For the sake of all my lilies, pardon.
God,” she prayed, “give back my violets blue.”
Adam, sowing, watching, later reaping.
Wrestling with the earth and life and fate,
Knew no dreams for weariness in sleeping,
Knew no grief. But early still and late
Eve in dreams beheld the angel keeping
Watch beside the ever-hidden gate.
Till to Adam came a wondrous calling.
Sleeping hope like flame began to burn:
“‘Tis God’s messenger,” he thought,” recalling.
Eden gate stands wide and we return.”
Then he knew whose voice, all song forestalling,
Held all joy and sadness turn in turn.
“My beloved sings,” he said, ” no other.
She would cheat my heart and hide her pain.”
So went in, undreaming of another.
In the shadowed place where she had lain,
Radiant and transfigured. Eve the mother.
Leaning on her elbow, sang to Cain.
(Ethel Clifford)
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Based on Topics: God Poems, Mind Poems, Dreams Poems, Thought & Thinking Poems, Pain Poems, Sleep Poems, Fate & Destiny Poems, Mothers Poems, Grief Poems, Angels Poems, Garden PoemsBased on Keywords: plaited, forestalling, undreaming, wheat-ears