Let me tell you a secret.

The Serpent presented no temptation,

simply

a warning.

 

As my teeth pierced the skin of 

the fabled fruit,

I learned

not of God,

but of Man.

 

My partner ate next

in attempt to see my truth.

He found none.

But cowered in the bushes and blamed me.

 

I stood naked before God's eyes

because I was unashamed of

what he made me. 

 

It was he who left Eden

We remained

poisoned with Truth. 

 

While Adam was kings and conquerers,

I became Persephone and Medusa,

The Virgin and the Temptress,

The Mother and the Whore.

Many have heeded my siren's call. 

And many blame my followers for original sin.

 

We are Pandora

we bring reality

not terror.

We are painted as man's muses and demons alike

we are inspiration,

we are love,

we are home and hearth.

 

And yet,

our bodies are blamed for Lust

our actions are blamed for Envy

our words are blamed for Sloth

our presence is blamed for Greed

our beings are an outlet for Wrath

our mouths are blamed for Indulgence

and our submission is a reason for Pride. 

 

Man holds us accountable for all without recognizing our power.

That was my freedom 

and my fall from grace. 

 

When the snake coiled itself around my body

and whispered into my ear;

I found 

the Devil's voice is not a man's

but a woman

who discovered her power

and built her own kingdom.