The first man stood alone

on the barren field

and in the distance he saw

the locked gate beyond which

his greatest shame was kept.

He turned to the snake

who writhed on its belly

like a worm

and cursed it for its treachery.

"You tricked me," the man said

"you led my hand astray

and now we are damned for it."

The snake sighed.

"I gave you knowledge," it said

"and with that knowledge

you made the choice you made.

I could not make it for you."

The man cried out

"All the same, trusting you was

my greatest mistake."

"No," the snake said

"Your greatest mistake was

believing you had a choice at all."





- — -



