“Temptation”

A Critique

The poet herein explores the role that temptation played, and continues to play, in leading humans away from those gifts of spirit and life that were promised by God in the Garden of Eden story.

The verse form is well-selected to complement the imagery. The lines themselves glide in a sinuous manner back and forth across the page, leaving a trail like a sidewinder rattlesnake would leave in the desert sand.

In keeping with the manifest nature of the message, the poetics are suitably subtle: “a toxin / although slow, Penetrates / deep /”, and the serpent-metaphor is maintained without admixture throughout the poem.

This is an acrostic poem, in that the titular word “Temptation” is embedded in the lines. Historical examples abound, many of which were written as small personal gifts or as light entertainment.

“Temptation” avoids attracting this criticism because of the weighty subject matter - the Serpent is shadowed but ubiquitous and the poet cautions us to look beneath the surface of things for the truth.

This poem is complete as it is, and stands on its own. Because it stays within itself, it accomplishes its goal simply and succinctly.