IN THE BEGINNING
By James Conroy

Adam never asked
And we’ve wondered ever since.
As the First
He had the privilege of naming things.
Beasts, Stars, Honeysuckle,
Were called as they moved him.
Adam gave three names
To himself and five more
To Woman. Eve added
One more for herself and never
Told him.
Adam called himself
Hunter, Gatherer, and Woodcutter.
He called Eve
Lover, Mother, Peace, Gazer, and Home.
Adam called the Snake “Deceit” for he
Often mistook it for a branch on the ground
Or a vine in the trees.
Woman called it “Power” because it was not afraid
Of anything larger than itself.
“Say your name,” the Snake tempted Eve.
“Which one?” she asked.
“The one only you know and Man doesn’t.”
“Why should I tell you?” Woman asked.
“With it I can give you Power,” claimed the Snake.
“Go see if Man wants Power,” said Eve,
“It is enough I have to carry his Sins.”