the poetry of Charles Fry

20 February 2003

the tree of life

within my heart
are the seeds of heaven
within my lungs
are the seeds of hell

standing as spectator
to my own destruction
i marvel at my immunity
to this sultry world

no longer can my eyes
themselves deceive
no longer can i hide
from my uncleanliness

i carry within me
the original sin
which adam partook
of the flowery tree

and with it i alone
have power to destroy
to discard my life
to throw myself away

yet i carry also
the knowledge of good
maintaining all things
in perfect equilibrium

until the day
when i again can find
the cherubims
and a flaming sword

Copyright © 2003 Charles Fry