The walls surrounding them they
never saw;
The angels, often. Angels
were as common
As birds or butterflies, but looked
more human.
As long as the wings were furled,
they felt no awe.
Beasts, too, were friendly.
They could find no flaw
In all of Eden: this was
the first omen.
The second was the dream which
woke the woman.
She dreamed she saw the lion sharpen
his claw.
As for the fruit, it had no taste
at all.
They had been warned of what was
bound to happen.
They had been told and told of
something called the world.
They had told and told about the
wall.
They saw it now; the gate was standing
open.
As they advanced, the giant wings
unfurled.
--Donald Justice