THE EXPULSION (in New Yorker typeface)
Adam was happy - now he had someone to blame for everything - shipwrecks, Troy, the gray face in the mirror.
Eve was happy: now he would always need her. She walked on boldly, swaying her beautiful hips.
The serpent admired his emerald coat, the Angel burst into flames (he'd never approved of them, and he was right).
Even God was secretly pleased: Let History Begin!
The dog had no regrets, trotting by Adam's side self-importantly, glad to be rid
of the lion, the toad, the basilisk, the white-footed mouse, who were also happy and forgot their names immediately.
Only the Tree of Knowledge stood forlorn, its small hard bitter crab apples
glinting high up, in a twilight of black leaves: how pleasant it had been, how unexpected
to have been, however briefly, the center of attention.
Katha Pollitt -- Emily L. Ferguson elf@cape.com 508-563-6822 New England landscapes, wooden boats and races, press photography Beetle cats on the web at: http://www.vsu.cape.com/~elf http://www.beetlecat.org/store.html#yrbook
