Dear Adam

Dear Adam,

    I’m sorry for all the pain you think
I may have brought you
but the gain from what I fought through
will maintain we are one not two
original human
you may blame me for the gloom we’re in
the doom and sin
but I birth the world from my womb within
so I ask am I no better
than the serpent in the grass
the devil
hell fire
and ash
you left me soaking in this fruits nectar
you, the child neglecter
you, the broken rib heckler
you, the savage spirit specter
now I grow tired of your pain game
and this strange fame
you call me Eve, but that
is just my slave name



--Z.Silas Herrera

Reviews

[Nicholas Hallows]

This has been sitting in my RRs for a while now and I haven't been ignoring it. I have been reading it over and over - that's a good thing. It really has got me thinking. In a way it reminds me of Carol Ann Duffy's collection 'The World's Wife' where she takes the viewpoint of the wives of famous historical figures. I think you have chosen a very interesting position for this piece. I am still unsure if I have grasped all aspects of the poem. But it's been pleasurable trying to.

If the human race was spawned from the doubtful (understatement) coupling of Adam and Eve then it is no surprise we have so many problems in society. But then 'The Disobedience of Man' is obviously a case of reverse-engineering. Written after the outcome was already known. The writers of genesis knew society had problems therefore created the story of Adam and Eve seeking wisdom in order to try and deter people from free-thinking and questioning rulers.

it also suggests any christian woman who believes in the bible must therefore believe that she is 'subject' to her male counterpart. So yes, Eve is a slave name. There really is so much wrong with the messages in the bible. On the same page (Genesis 3:6) it says 'how wonderful it would be to become wise'. God forbid (LOL, quite literally) we should become wise and question his didctator-like leadership. Well Eve was punished for that. So the moral from the bible is: women should be man's subject and should not seek wisdom.

very nice and thought-provoking poem.

[Chelsea L. Ellsworth]

Very deep. It gets you thinking.

[Michael X]

its not bad, and kept my attention going, and the wording was well devised,
you did a nice job on this, way to go!

[Electric Green Earth Ch..]

I didn't realize what this was regarding at first until I re-read it. This is quite poignant and unforgettable...it reads almost like lyrics and there is more of a beat to it than actual flow. Nicely, nicely done.

[Luthien of the Woods]

I am a Christian and I am a woman and yes I have my own hermeneutical grid as I read the Genesis account. In my perspective, I don't think the account was meant to show us that Eve is under Adam's dominion. Infact, before God created humans, the passage read that "God created man in his own image, male and female he created them." (Gen. 1:27). This has a lot to say about the equality of men and women in the sight of God. That was the original intention but the Fall affected the order.

Your poem is Eve's experience after the Fall. Since Adam failed to be a real man that he was supposed to be (he was silent when the serpent tempted Eve even when the context will show us that he was there beside her when the serpent delivered his speech..). Because of Adam's negligence, "Eve" became an object of man's violence.

Your poem has given us a list of Adam's way of being violent to Eve, passed on to the generations after them.

Yea, you have given Eve the voice in a such a way that St. Paul the Apostle, who explained on one of his letters to the Christians that it was Adam who sinned, though Eve got the blame. This "blame game" tries to cover the "guilt" inside the hearts of humans ever since.

Your poem presents "negative texts" that can be "redeemed." Eve is not born to be a slave but a "helpmate", a "lover" and "enabler" of Adam. Here is where the real power of a woman lies. She is Eve, taken out of Adam, not really that different from him but unique as she is, she complements him. Without her, the image of the Perfect God in humans cannot be displayed.

Your poem has been a trigger to these reflections...Excellent!

[April Child]

It's all in those last 2 lines for me, I enjoyed the journey to get there but the last lines just bring it home.

you call me Eve, but that
is just my slave name

[Celtic Cat]

I-N-T-E-N-S-E!! Very deep, my friend. I'm floored. "that is just my slave name". Very powerful write. Hard hitting indeed. As always, your rhymes are exquisite. Excellently penned!! Bravo!!!!

[Angelic Darkness]

This is such a strong poem, and yes, you made your point.
It's interesting to see this from a different perspective.
Maybe, some of us do feel like slaves to the world.
AD

[PianoandPage]

nice spoken piece. almost comes off as a rap but not quite. i'd love to hear this performed.

"you, the child neglecter
you, the broken rib heckler
you, the savage spirit specter" - great use of alliteration and stringing together of adams character.

the last line is killer too.