If Adam Picked the Apple

If Adam Picked the Apple

By:  Danielle Coffyn

There would be a parade,

A celebration,

A holiday to commemorate

The day he sought enlightenment.

We would not speak of

Temptation by the devil, rather,

We would laud Adam’s curiosity,

His desire for adventure

And knowing.

 We would feast on apple inspired fare:

tortes, chutneys, pancakes, pies.

There would be plays and songs

reenacting his courage.

But it was Eve who grew bored,

weary of her captivity in Eden.

And a woman’s desire is rarely a cause

for celebration

Danielle Coffyn (she/her) is a Pushcart-Prize winning poet.  She is co-founder of the Superblom Society, where she facilitates Nature and Nurture hiking and writing retreats.  She currently resides in St. Louis with her son and dog.

You can read her essays exploring the complexity of being human on her Substack, The Understory.  Daniellecoffyn.substack.com

Instagram:  @daniellecoffyn

Bluesky:  @daniellecoffyn.bsky.social