Temptation On The River Poem by Roy Ballard

Myself and Eve are dressed for summer,
under willows by the river;
softly on the satin pillows of the water gently slipping;
idle blades in Isis dipping;
traffic like a distant drummer…
Look! Here comes a swimming snake!
On the water, barely in it, serpent eyes of Eden glinting,
green enamelled, surface dinting,
there he lies for just a minute;
on the shiny wetness resting,
head on paddle, fork tongue testing;
spirit of the poison chalice, innocent of any malice.
Round his noble neck is rolled the ancient torque in leaf of gold,
freshly fashioned by a master
delicate as alabaster,
emerald scales and, thin as whips, turquoise inlaid on his lips.
Tempting lips?
Not so, it errs to think that his could tempt like hers.
Now he swims away in haste.
Farewell, we've other fruit to taste.