The Most Original Sin

If Eve is real,

if heaven is real,

I hope she doesn’t feel

guilty.

I hope she is angry

that her children suffer

for apples.

I hope she gives God that look

over her nose that makes him

squirm.

Don’t look at me like that, God says.

Mmhm. Eve answers.

I hope she holds us

in heaven, when we get there

bleeding and screaming.

I hope she tells us

she loves us no matter what.

She grasps our hands as we

are judged, looks at Peter

like he knows what he did

and how dare he?

I hope she never steps on the serpent –

never ever.

I hope she coaxes him into a cup

slides a newspaper underneath

and dumps him outside.

Leslie J Anderson writes: “My writing has appeared in Asimov’s, Apex, Hecate, and Barrelhouse. My poetry has been nominated for a Pushcart, Elgin, and Rhysling award. I live in Ohio in a small, white house beside a cemetery with three good dogs and a Roomba.”