Ode To Adam's Time In Eden Poem by Gert Strydom

(in answer to Thomas Traherne)

1
A life that is pure and holy and secure was my own,
where God did me as the first man with glory crown,
when brand new did everything around me appear,
and to me the animals, my wife and children were near
while daily to have companionship the Lord came down,
where untouched and happy earth seemed eternal,
with no sorrow, pain, heartache or any thing infernal
everything did chat with me and to all I were known,
where God did me as the first man with glory crown.

2
Perfect every created thing had great magnificence
and Eve, the children and I lived in simple innocence,
everything was so bright, holy, serene and pure,
as if eternally this world and all on it would endure
no evil, goodwill and only good could I in Eden sense
where lovely, rich, beautiful, sunny and fair
was everything of which I had been aware
nothing, no animal or person did each other incense
and Eve, the children and I lived in simple innocence.

3
With vigour and native health my body did grow
while God did His goodwill on everything bestow,
great bliss and happiness were constantly mine,
where everything had something of the divine,
soothing and cool and sweet did the rivers flow,
animals were accompanying me everywhere
and all of life was full of joy and without care
while I did truly my wife, children and God know,
while God did His goodwill on everything bestow.

4
Only the great and good did God to me reveal,
knowledge of sin, pain and heartache God did conceal,
but still great knowledge and intellect I had,
yet I was never lonely, hurt, unhappy or even sad,
did not have to go through and great hard ordeal,
new and great and better discoveries did me surprise
where God and holy angels did righteous and holy things prize
and this world was real and I filled with a kind of zeal,
knowledge of sin, pain and heartache God did conceal.

5
Every child, my wife and everything on earth were mine,
and so very happy were my whole family with God divine,
where everyone and everything lived in tranquillity
were of corruption and all bad things free and we were holy
while pleasantly on our skins the sun did daily shine,
and our judgements were fair and utterly sound
while the loveliest fruit on different trees did abound
with joy the faces of my family did constantly shine
and so very happy were my whole family with God divine

6
Amazing was our happiness and fun and great our bliss
and how I wish I could turn my life back and return to this
where everything was perfect and no lovelier have I seen
that nature's colours of brown, blue, black and green,
the intimacy and sweet savour of every natural kiss,
at a time I had the glory of God face to face behold,
but here now my years are running out and I am old,
where now there is great hardship in the way that life is
and how I wish I could turn my life back and return to this.

[Reference:"Wonder" by Thomas Traherne.]