Elderly couple (after Sebald Beham) Poem by Yaak Karsunke

for Ingrid

in an engraving from 1543
as big as the palm of your hand
you see them standing
a woman & a man
not so slim no longer young
the inventors of love

the tapping of the fig tree's leaves
rubbing against one another
kept Eve awake
& when Adam took the apple he saw
her breasts with new
eyes before his
parting lips

(soon after both were
much moved by knowledge)

the snake darts
out of paradise & glides
smoothly towards you & me -
let's go into the garden
& adorn
its altar with pomegranates

Translation: Nicholas Grindell