Women, Look toward Eve

By Martha Pettijohn Morrise

Second Place

And there was Eden

where emerald newness flowered in eternal blend

of seed and harvest time. Abundance offered gifts of life

to answer every need, save one.

And Eve

rested there in innocence of evil,

(its face forgotten now),

progression circumscribed for all eternity.

Then … the serpent offered sight,

and cunningly denied death’s certainty,

so Eve partook.

And Adam,

understanding the design of their togetherness,

counted in his heart the awesome price

and, in devotion foreordained to stand,

took her by the hand and turned his back

on paradise.

Man and wife together,

curved in prayer, rejoicing in redemption promised,

sought the light of truth revealed

and learned obedience, the key.

Companioning his strength, she helped him

tame the land, shared the aching length of days,

the moisture-beaded brow. Endowed with knowledge now,

she dared the thistled paths that pierced her spirit,

strong in new-found peace.

Pain-bent, she brought forth seed, sorrowing

for those who erred, while guiding gently

toward the light.

Mother Eve,

now reaching out through centuried time

to me, a daughter of the latter day,

you give your knowledge-gift

entwined in shining strands of service

and wrapped with dedication to eternal choice.

Our sacred trust defined, you bridge eternity

and set a jeweled precedent for me,

and womankind.

Illustrated by Michael Graves