Peccatum Originus
Circling this tree we wondered
what mystery lay behind
the fruit of our question
We put distance between us
and the boughs heavy with temptation
branches reaching out like hands and talons
to gather us in like
fish fighting the shame baited barbed hooks
so brutally adorned with lures of light
that draws us without an chance to escape
And coming round again
we are surprised, feigning innocence
in the face of the partaking, the peeling,
of the cursed answer.
Spitting bitter seeds we
are shocked at the naked darkness
that drives us to point crooked fingers
of fearful blame
and broken trust.
We thought we could be far more
that what we are,
willing victims of blatant hubris
the rotten core of our
peccatum originus
Circling the shining tree
I wept for a future I had yet
to see…
eh janzen
Thanks, Eric. Your poem captures well the tragedy of “desire” turned inward. An outstanding book, with chapter 2 teasing out the dynamics of desire in Genesis is: “The Genesis of Desire” by Jean-Michel Oughourlian (Michigan State University Press). He has been impacted by the work of René Girard on understandings of mimetic desire. His book offers compassion and explanation, above all hope, for relationships broken by the ravages of desire.
In this context we (must) learn to confess: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God… (Psalm 42:1)”. Gerald May says in “Addiction and Grace” that God is the only non-addictive “entity” in the universe. Hence Jesus’ supplying the two greatest commands as our ticket to salvation/freedom.
Thanks again. Wayne
Thanks Wayne…always nice to hear that someone enjoyed something you’ve written.
Funny thing too is that I just recently was told about Girard and mimetics after telling someone else about the poem…guess I should maybe check it out.
cheers,
eric