The Rebuke of Adam and Eve by Joseph Lisowski

The Rebuke of Adam and Eve, by Domenichino, 1626.

 The Rebuke of Adam and Eve

God is suspended in air
By five angels, babies really,
As he extends a castigating hand
To his creations just before
Banning them from his sight.

Adam shrugs, hands indicating Eve
Who on one knee points
Directly to the snake.

Domenichino paints an anxious
Lamb in the lower right corner
Next to a lion growing fierce.
In the upper left corner
Golden apples shine from the tree
Of the knowledge of good and evil

The pair, splendid in their nakedness,
Unaware of future travail.

 Joseph Lisowski

Joseph Lisowski has taught at several colleges and universities, most notably, Duquesne University, Point Park College, The University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas serves as the setting for his 3 published detective fiction novels), J.Sargeant Reynolds Community College, and Elizabeth City State University.  Among his many awards and grants, he received the UNC Board of Governors Teacher of the Year award (2013-2014).  Individual works in magazines and journals are too numerous to mention, but he has had 21 chapbooks of poetry published.