The Curse of Eden
The curse of Eden
This may seem odd to say
But Eden is our real sin
We were never meant to stay
Where happiness is guaranteed
Bucolic fountains of wine
God meeting our every need
Soft, safe, cruelly benign
Nothing demanding our trying
Nothing there to sweat for
Nothing there worth striving
No horizons to explore
Nothing we struggle to earn
Nothing we fear to lose
Nothing that pricks our concern
No freedom to choose
Fruit always ripe and juicy
Us pats cared for, comfortable
Rousseau’s damn monotony
We’re better when vulnerable
Thank God we got shoved outside
Lest we ate the other tree’s fruit
And ended up with death denied
The curse of eternal ease absolute
An eternity of knowing we are separate
Kindness in pushed into the wilderness
Freed to strive and fail now our fate
Lonely us tasting sweetness and bitterness
We ate the fruit that made us learn
The difference between good and evil
Just as toddlers must grow to discern
How life is full of suffering and upheaval
Sent outside is the price of being human
Men and women meant to be restless
Needing each other’s encouraging union
Never being quite happy makes life precious
The trick is suffering and loving together
Richer and tougher for paying the price
Taking care of each other wherever
Yes, beloved ones, there’s your paradise