First Woman

The Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa was once green and verdant. It is also thought
by some scientists to be the home of “mitochondrial Eve”- a woman who lived there
100-200,000 years ago, fragments of whose DNA can still be found in the
mitochondria (the cell energy generator) of every human being on earth, male and
female.

Birds swoop and cry in
Serpent like patterns
Above me.

While I
Flesh of his flesh
Rib of his ribs

Am told I am
To be fertile
To multiply.

I have yet to meet
The serpent.
I am pure

And pale in this
Paradise garden
Beneath a

Fruit laden tree.
The tinkling calls
Of brightly

Feathered birds, the
Singing of the
Fountain.

Later I will be
Told I am the
Mother

Of all humanity
A rib of Adam,
Blazing, rising.

To my full stature
As Eve, Mother
Of All.

Partly based on the painting “The Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch and the
associated guide found at https://archief.ntr.nl/tuinderlusten/en.html

Eileen Neil