‘When Adam Sinned’

When Eve ate and Adam sinned,

The Holy Ghost fled away.

The creation rose in anger,

But the Lord bid it stay.

It obeyed, and man its head remained.

All is naked.  The garment of Light is gone.

Man and woman are alone.

No beast will befriend them.

Wort and soil stand aloof.

Hunger comes.  A little food is left,

But many longing eyes are fixed upon it.

Planting must begin.

The man lifts a stone.

With its bone he stabs

The body of the earth.

It shudders, and all the creatures groan.

The man also weeps as the wound is opened.

The work is done, but every season

The ritual is repeated.

After many ages and spans of years,

When man through sin had waxèd old,

And the creation with him too was dying,

The Godhead broke the yoke of iron:

Mary, New Eve and Virgin Mother,

With her blessèd ‘Yes’ brought forth New Adam,

Jesus Christ, by the Father’s power,

The Son’s humility, the Spirit’s presence.

In the God-Man, Heaven has been

Joined with the earth.  Human nature is renewed,

And the cosmos enlivened through and through.

By God’s love, the governing laws

Are set aside:  A Maiden begets,

But is still unwombed.  By the wounds of Christ,

We are healed.  His death brings life.

Human flesh ascends to Heaven,

And the Holy Ghost descends to earth.

In the new creation of the Church,

The uncreated Light of God

Is filling every bit of matter.

Water, oil, wheat, and wine

No longer delay death merely,

But are bearers now of God’s own Life.

The Divine Liturgy

Heals the scars of earth.

Bitterness is waning;

The critters love and serve

Holy men and women.

And the while, She watches

Afar off yonder for tidings

Of the Great Unending

Banquet of Her Groom.

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Holy Ælfred the Great, King of England, South Patron, pray for us sinners at the Souð, unworthy though we are!

Anathema to the Union!