Who wants to live forever?

thought Eve,
gazing heavenward with only mild regret.
True, it was an easy life, no thorns
to catch and fester, and the food -
mmmmmm - am bro si al.

She shifted her gaze,
contemplating all fifty six of her children
and Adam there
in the background,
scratching his balls,
counting goats,

and the dust between her toes
rich and red,
fertile as a floodplain,
apt to get into everything
even the matzah...

God's own sun warmed her bones
that showed a little too sharply,
a little bowed
as she closed her eyes,
gave thanks to the four corners of this earth
and, wiping floury hands on her apron,
called all her lambs home to the fold.