Eve's Retort

Successful O serpent you've been, even I,
Have tasted the way of the path that is wide,

Since the first age of man when my namesake did fall,
All naturals have followed, too, luring the call,

That as gods they would be, only self to obey,
Accepting the lie that for self they were made,

Then preference of self became law of the land,
But which preference, which self, who's the strongest god-man,

Then factions, then friction, then blood in the streets,
Irreverent is death when its maker it meets,

Then victors of man to the kingdoms they'd built,
Yet draped in defeat by a wet cloak of guilt,

Deeper than visceral this pang of the soul,
"Wrong action, wrong thought, not the truth you have told",

When heard this from men we did strive to rebut,
But the voice did not quell when its echo's shut up,

Social acceptance a failed moral plug,
Twas never our wrestle against flesh and blood,

I've sought peace without, and I've sought peace within,
Behind positive thoughts still a mountain of sin,

Now what have we done, against God do we stand,
How small and how brief is the presence of man,

How can I approach Him, how can I make right,
For darkness walks not to the chamber of light,

Often truth knocked, but I mocked and despised,
Without this what worth do I have in His eyes,

But His love refracts good, and His good reflects true,
By this do I know that mankind has value,

That Truth became man and for man did he bleed,
For God so loved us that he did intercede,

Now loose me O serpent, there's been made a way,
A peace in the now and a great hope portrayed,

Cast forward thy gaze beyond days yet to be,
And take comfort not now are the things that you see,

Behold as what is doth part way for the King,
And nature doest sigh in relief as she sings,

Behold then my savior, your terror the same,
I welcome, you curse, I cry Holy His Name,

Behold as the nations His presence adore,
Then every knee bow, every tongue call Him Lord,

Behold He's returned for us both to pursue,
To cast you asunder, to make me anew,

Look now He bids me His throne to approach,
To crown me His child and dispose my old cloak,

He dons me His cloak unblotted and clean,
Before judgment I pass but perfection is seen,

Oh, glorious joy and from sin I am free,
Look now O serpent, His glare's upon thee,

Feel the race, where to run, but in vain should you stand,
For both death and the grave did He fell by His hand,

Listen the sound as my chains fall to wreck,
Listen once more as they clasp round thy neck,

He's cast you to darkness, He's bid me come in,
He's chained you in judgment, He's cleansed me from sin,

I have, you have not, from you takes, to me gives,
Yet all good for to truth are all things relative,

Who is slave, who is friend, who is bound, who is free,
Yet not it is, but it is yet indeed,

You question from whence comes this savior of mine,
I must afore question, from whence has come time,

I am bound by the lesser and ignorant its way,
How much more its greater is thought I'll convey,

Revelation, and reason, and senses cohere,
Whosoever has ears, if he will he will hear,

It is written in nature, each day she confess,
Amazing is He and benevolent yes,

It is written in man, engraved on his soul,
Truth, purpose, and moral, the hope to be whole,

It is written through ages, His word does proclaim,
His decrees and great wonders ordained by His name,

It is written in me by the joy in my heart,
When I've dwelt in His presence and burdens depart,

What great measure of faith do I need to believe,
So much known, I have sown but a small mustard seed,

I stand a new creature, His spirit within,
Ready each day as I face you again,

Now, "Did God really say?", with this taunt me no more,
I answer, It's written, "Thus saith the Lord!"