did you know there was a snake in the garden with your children?

was its nest hidden from your sight?

amongst the red roses and the lilies white,

how it slithered feather light.

the dove of innocence beheld by its eye

so gullible with its sweet childlike cry,

oh, how a snake gladly leads a dove to demise.

unaware, in the birdbath the dove plays

and the snake creeps ever closer to its simple praise

so then once dove is soothed it can slay.

the dove is naive enough to believe the serpent’s fake

even believing in the being of a friendly snake,

oh watch how quickly this bait will take.

where was your mother, oh dove?

where was your father, my love?

how did it feel to drown in a puddle by the shrubs?

as the serpent bled you dry

and corrupted how far you dreamt to fly,

how broken you now lie.

a dove, a muse, pure and light

one day I had wished to be and might

except without a snake’s nest in my garden of flowers bright.

they say: innocent as a dove, shrewd as a serpent.

yet, one bite and the dove is corrupted, it is certain.

so how can I renew this sermon?

with my white feathers stained red

like the lilies and rose beds

I did once not dread

how do I retain innocence

after my playful song was turned sour by the serpent’s disturbance?

Lord, tell me, I lend myself to suspense.

how can a child be like a dove in a garden full of snakes?

pure and clean, after being toothily staked?

how can I a pure heart again make?