Walking naked in Eden, they
lived always in the light
of the holy. Drawn to disobey
they awoke to shame — and Godlike
comprehension of pain,
of broken as well as good.
(What would our choice have been
if we had understood?)
And what was the shame about?
And why did He need, then,
to “clothe the lilies…”, who nightly
met those unclad in Eden?
Had nakedness not meant freedom?
At evening, now forsaken
by our choice, was that to Him
as since to us, heartbreaking?
Yet He taught the Jews to weave
rich fabrics for the abode
He would live in, or above
in fire or (covering) cloud,
and long since He has promised to prepare
for us the robe He hopes His guests that Day will wear.