Author: Harriet Annie Wilkins

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    "And Cain talked with Abel, his brother."



    The sun was rising on earth, sin-tainted, yet beautiful,
    Delicate gold-colored cloudlets in all their primeval beauty,
    Ushered the bright orb of day to his task well appointed,
    Like a bevy of beautifal girls in the court of their monarch,
    Or a regiment of soldiers all bright in new rose-colored armour.
    Two altars arose between earth and the cloud-speckled firmament;
    Cain walked in a stern and defiant advance to his altar,
    A recklessness flashed from his eyes, and passions unconquered,
    As he scornfully looked on the kneeling, worshipping Abel,
    Ay scornfully thus he addressed his young innocent brother:

    "Look at my sacrifice, Abel, these glistening dew-colored roses,
    Those delicate lillies and mosses, these graceful arbutulas;
    Look at the golden brown tints of these fruits in their lusciousness;
    Look at the bright varied hues of these green leaves, closely encircling
    These rich scarlet blossoms, like yonder clouds, glorious and wonderful;
    Nothing on earth or in heaven could make fairer oblation.
    Abel, what have you carved on your altar, in that wild devotion
    By which you in vain seek to soften the anger of heaven?
    A circle, to show that your God is all near, is filling
    The seen and unseen with His incomprehensible presence.

    Well, so let it be, then; I'll not contradict the illusion.
    One thing appears certain, that we have offended our Maker,
    Who visits unjustly on us the mistakes of our parents,
    As if we ever reached out our hands for fruit once forbidden.
    Shall we never be free from the thorns and the thistles upspringing?
    Why do you still try to follow the steps and voice of your Maker?
    And why still persist in slaying the white lambs of your meadows?
    Take of my beautiful flowers and despise all blood shedding."

    "My brother," spoke Abel, "I love the dear innocent flowers.
    Are they not all, nearly all that is left us of Eden's fair glory,
    All but the singing of birds, the winds and the waters, wild music,
    All but the whispers of love and blessings of heart-broken parents;
    But you heard, my brother, as well as myself the commandment,
    Not to offer to heaven what we choose, but what God declareth
    Will shadow our Faith and sweet Hope in the promised atonement;
    And that terrible sin, those spots in our souls, my dear brother,
    Can never be cleansed by the lives of the beautiful flowers,
    Only by His, shadowed forth in the death of an innocent victim."

    Then angrily answered Cain back to his young brother's pleading,
    "Abel, I have no patience with such mock humiliations,
    I have no need of a Saviour, I have no need of blood-shedding
    To wash out the stain of my own or my father's transgression.
    I for myself can make perfect and full restitution;
    Look at the smoke of your altar curling upward so clearly,
    Making white cloudlets on high in the blue of the firmament,
    While mine sweeps the ground that is cursed like the trail of the serpent:
    Why comes down the Maker of this blighted universe, asking
    Why art thou wroth, and why is thy countenance fallen?"

    Stand I not here in the image of God, who created us?
    Have I not courage, and freedom, and strength above my inferiors?
    Did not our father give name to beast, bird, insect and reptile?
    Shall his children crouch down and kneel like the creature that crawleth?
    I will not obey this commandment, but I'll wreath up my altar
    With offerings of earth, with gold of the orange, and red of the roses,
    I'll not stain my hands with the blood of an innocent creature."
    So Cain turned away from his wondering brother; perhaps then little dreaming
    That on the next morrow he would become earth's first murderer;
    And, scorning the death of a lamb, take the life of a brother.

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Type of Poem: Narrative Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a profound exploration of moral, religious, and fraternal themes, reimagining the biblical story of Cain and Abel. The poet employs vivid and lush imagery to depict the world and the brothers' offerings, with a particular focus on the contrast between Cain's beautiful but ineffective sacrifice of flowers and fruits, and Abel's obedient but violent one of a lamb. The tone is predominantly serious and reflective, providing a thoughtful commentary on the brothers' differing perspectives and choices.

The poem is structured as a dialogue, providing direct insight into the internal conflicts of both characters. Cain's defiance and self-reliance are juxtaposed against Abel's humility and obedience, embodying the universal struggle between pride and humility, self-will and divine authority. The tragic ending hints at the consequences of Cain's arrogance and refusal to adhere to divine commandments, foreshadowing his destiny as the first murderer. The poet uses dramatic irony effectively, as the readers, familiar with the biblical account, understand the grave implications of Cain's words and actions, creating a sense of impending doom.

The use of elaborate metaphors and similes enhances the sensory experience of the poem, adding depth and richness to the narrative. For instance, the comparison of the rising sun to a king and his court or a regiment of soldiers introduces the concepts of hierarchy and order, subtly hinting at the divine order that Cain challenges. On the other hand, Abel's sacrifice is described through a metaphor of shadows, signifying the gravity of sin and the need for atonement. Overall, this poem is a complex, vivid, and poignant exploration of human morality, divine commandments, and the consequences of challenging them.