I Eat Poetry

Eve oh Eve
Taslima Nasrin

Why won't Eve eat of the fruit?
Didn't Eve have a hand to reach out with,
fingers with which to make a fist;
didn't Eve have a stomach to feel hunger with,
a tongue to feel thirst,
a heart with which to love?

But then why won't Eve eat of the fruit?

Why would Eve merely suppress her wishes,
regulate her steps?
Subdue her thirst?
Why would Eve be so compelled
to keep Adam moving around in the Garden of Eden
                           all their lives?

Because Eve has eaten of the fruit
                           there are sky and earth,
because she has eaten
                           there are moon, sun, rivers and seas.
Because she has eaten, trees, plants and vines,
because Eve has eaten of the fruit
                           there is joy, because she has eaten there is joy,
joy, joy-
Eating of the fruit, Eve made a heaven of the earth.

Eve, if you get hold of the fruit
                         don't ever refrain from eating.

-translated from the Bengali by Carolyne Wright and Mohammad Nural Huda