Sonnet: The Wall by Donald Justice

Sonnet: The Wall

 

The walls surrounding them they never saw; 

The angels, often.  Angels were as common 

As birds or butterflies, but looked more human. 

As long as the wings were furled, they felt no awe. 

Beasts, too, were friendly.  They could find no flaw 

In all of Eden:  this was the first omen. 

The second was the dream which woke the woman. 

She dreamed she saw the lion sharpen his claw. 

As for the fruit, it had no taste at all. 

They had been warned of what was bound to happen. 

They had been told and told of something called the world. 

They had told and told about the wall. 

They saw it now; the gate was standing open. 

As they advanced, the giant wings unfurled.