The Son of Dust is lain to rest against the walls of Paradise
In shallow grave from hollows cleft by Cain and Abel prophesied
The doom of man; enlightenment and agency could not dispel
The burden of his instrument: He’s drawn to where his father fell
The ancient gates are locked and set, a portrait of asperity
In iron wrought the epithet “Your judgment is my charity”
Amidst the stillness something stirred, whose gentle voice belied disdain
An echo from a past incurred beyond our bounded earthen plane
The sons of sin return at last, though Eden’s shade you’ve never known
Where my benevolence is vast, if crimson tithings may be sown
Like startled birds the brothers flew, their journey home in silence spent
Except to swear that each eschew the whisper tilling malcontent
Alas, the seed began to germ; its purchase made in fertile ground
Whose flower stakes the costly terms of crossing back the deathless bound
“If greener pastures herdsmen find then to their charge the turn is owed
What portion of our parents’ crime do we on infant shoulders load?”
“But why should we abide a tongue in opposition to the crest,
And who amidst the fitted young do you prefer beneath the rest?”
“The chance for us to mend our fate and after all turn back the clock
Resolves that I must designate the choicest firstling of my flock!”
“Ambition clouds the light of truth, beware the darkness of desire
I shall not walk the path of ruthless zealotry this voice requires”
The changeless walls in silence dawned as Abel Lilly led in hand
Though never would the voice respond to stifled calls or frail demands
So Abel drew his sticking knife in preparation for the blow
Remitting payment for the lives considered forfeit long ago
The hasty reap of Baby’s Breath a nurseryman cannot allow
But who will stay a wrongful death; am I my brother’s keeper now?
The storm’s appearance unforeseen, a thunderclap released the squall
Summarily the strike was clean, at last the rain began to fall
A creaking gate and grinding stone with space enough for flower’s bloom
His heart in shards and tears bemoan the word that sealed the brothers’ doom