ADAM
This man, this image is the scheme
of things. This pure delight
he finds as he touches
the flesh of a woman. Man-made
this gift of God, the rib that grew
and blossomed to preserve
the blossoming. The man seeks entrance, strives
to heal the wound. Who can unite
these themes; this earth, these images,
his dreams - deeper than knowledge?
This man, this image is
the scheme of things -
within it and beyond.
Malcolm Evison
EVE
There and unknown; unknowing. This one
this moment is. There
and she does not know it. She is.
The man moves from his loneliness
toward her. She looks ahead,
her gaze, steady and confident. Her eyes
affirm the day. He cannot share it, sensing
that her lips betray, this confidence.
He reaches out to touch
her face, her lips tremblingly apart;
a silent fear disturbs
and beautifies. There are no words.
(She, he, wait for the mystery
to reveal itself).
The touch. Words drop their silent veil.
“Amen”, she says, discovering the word.
“Thank-you”, he says, discovering their power.
Together theirs is praise: separate and one.
Malcolm Evison
