Temptation

A red, enticing apple was hanging in a tree,
A sweet, delicious pleasure lay right in front of me.
I knew it was forbidden, or had it been a dream?
The more I sought to have it, the more benign it seemed.
I reached for it but halted. A voice had loudly cried,
"Beware!" it said and pleaded, "now quickly turn aside!"
But as the voice was fading, the fruit appeared more bright,
And all the seeming danger was not within my sight.

Determined to enjoy it before I changed my mind,
I grabbed, and bit, and tasted what seemed the finest kind.
The juice was fresh and luscious, the flesh both crisp and ripe,
Filling me with pleasure of a strong, surprising type.
The apple was far sweeter, much more than I had thought.
Another bite soon followed, the warning all forgot.
What came was not the pleasure that I had first enjoyed;
The sweetness became bitter, the happiness destroyed.

I craved another mouthful despite the sour taste,
But sensing something foul, I let it go in haste.
Regret soon came to torment; my fears returned to me.
In pain I held my stomach and tried to leave the tree.
Though grief tore at my bosom, there was no going back.
The crimson juice had stained me; the sky was turning black.
I cried though it was hopeless, for none could hear me say,
"What wretched man that I am! Oh, wretched, wretched day!"

Then came the King beside me, my sinless, righteous Lord.
Could I now look upon him and call him my adored?
While weeping, I spoke softly, "how could you 'ere forgive!
The wrong I've done is evil, no good have I to give."
"Though your sin is great," he said, "my grace is even more,
I will forgive and pardon, now go and sin no more."
With joy I rose to follow, restored, made new, and whole,
Prepared to pass the fruit trees and ne'er to give my soul.

This poem won first place for the June 2026 poetry contest