Old Testament Lore. Norman M. Chansky
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Jasmine blossoms perfumed the air
And nightingales were heard everywhere.
A host of Angels in heaven above
Sang anthems extolling connubial love.
And every woman, possesses the water,
Which nurtured Eve, God’s first daughter.
And every man to this very day
Carries within him Adam’s DNA.
The First Dawn
Slowly slats of sunshine broke through the dark
And songs of morning sprung from the meadow lark.
Eve gazed at Adam; Adam stared at Eve
And together they said, “For the Blessings we receive
Thank You, God.” And at dawn they were renewed
And from each there did exude
Ribbons of bounty from Heaven above
Sent to Earth from God with Love.
And the two found it fitting to begin each day
Thanking God in the very same way.
And this legacy they bequeathed to all:
Listen with your heart to God’s Loving Call:
“Make this world a better place
And crown it with the glory of My Holy Grace.”
And so each day they improved Creation
And each night they sang songs to God with adoration.
Adam’s Fear Of The Dark
Adam watched the white sleek frames of crowds of egrets drifting in the twilight sky,
Ribbons of dappled crimson were turning gray.
A fear seized Adam that he was losing his sight he had not known the night before.
His heart beat faster than a fly’s wings; his hands were wet as rain.
In a panic he summoned The Maker.
After having seen Your magnificent Creation, am I forever to be in darkness?
Will I ever again see azure clouds? trees stretching their arms? birds in flight?
Will I ever again see mountain peaks? the turquoise blue of rolling rivers?
Will I forever be without light? Adam asked.
“Worry not,” God Calmed Adam, the darkness was made for sleep.
“Most living creatures sleep in the darkness then awake in the light.
It is their rhythm. Lions, sheep, elephants, crows have it among My Creatures.
This is your time, Adam, to sleep, to renew yourself.
Yours has been a busy day naming and cataloging all of the plants and animals.”
Adam prepared piles of thatch: one for him and one for Eve.
They laid their heads upon them.
Their eyes stared at the silver crescent glowing in the sky
And scanned the sprays of twinkling stars dotting the dark night.
As he listened to the coo-cooing of the owl,
And the wolves playful howl and the sonar pulses of bats on the prowl,
About to ask God why in the dark they must sleep
Angels into his eyes slumber did sweep.
Loss of Paradise: Version One
In the beginning of Time, it was thought, that the serpent was the slyest of creatures of the field. He said unto Eve, “even though God said that you should not eat of any tree in The Garden. taste it anyway. It is a delight.” The woman replied, “of the fruit of the trees of The Garden we may eat but not of the tree in the midst of The Garden.” And the serpent said you will not surely die. God Will Not Know that you have eaten thereof. Your eyes will be opened and you will know good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was a delight to the eyes and its fruit would make her wise. She ate and gave a taste to her husband. Then they heard the Voice of God. Gen III, 1–8.
The sly serpent, it is said,
Planted an idea in Woman’s head,
To eat of the fruit of the Tree
That would make her wise and make her free.
But instead of gaining wisdom
She and Adam lost their freedom
And would forever pay the price
Of their trespass in Paradise:
Both saw they were without any clothes
And shame colored their faces as red as rose.
Loss of Paradise: Version Two
Adam asked, “Eve where are you hiding? I’ll find you.”
A tortoise lumbered toward him and he climbed on its back.
They wandered hither and yon seeking Eve.
As the sun was setting over the azure sea,
The skies were turning orange and pink.
Then a red cloud passed by and opened its windows
Raining iridescent, beads of pearls.
Yellow finches swarmed about to catch them.
The beads dropped to the ground and grew into tall trees with spindly branches.
On each branch was a savory golden fruit.
Eve! There you are! Come out of hiding. Do not pick the fruit!
She ate. It was sweet! Its nectar burst in her mouth!
“Let me taste it,” he begged. “What ecstasy!!!
O God! What have I done? My hands tremble. My legs are frozen. My loins scream.
My arms are heavy with sleep. My soul is slipping away.
I am no longer Adam. I am Man. I am naked.