The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It flames out like shining from shook foil.

Yahweh spins the earth and gathers nature to a greatness like the ooze of oil crushed.

Over the deep down things, the Holy Ghost broods, even now with warm breast and with, ah, bright wings.

It is time to show Eve her home. Yahweh's mind swirles with the joy of a recent memory.

Adam is newly made, Eve, a glimmer in his eye.

And the emergence of this pair of children sets Yahweh's heart a whirl, has him nesting.

He surveys his newly minted world.

It is vast, and there is much beauty.

But why not more?

So Yahweh speaks new words to a corner of his creation.

Rock and soil quake and rise, a mountain punches up through the ground, rising, rising toward the clouds.

Atop the mountain, the Almighty arranges level places, carves gently sloping hills, wreaths it all

and haze fire. He tunes the climate just so, early morning mist, noon sun, evening cool, and then the flora.

Grass spreads across the leaves like olive oil on a tipped plate. Trees branch in woody majesty,

deciduous, evergreen coniferous. Vines and flowers and honeybees and furred mammals

find themselves planted and buzzing and scurrying

in a land like no other.

Fresh water tumbles from heights and rests in placid pools.

The scent of orange blossoms and damp earth hangs in the air.

What shall we call it? asks God. God answers, we'll call this land, Eden. It means delight.

And then Yahweh smiles the smile of someone who has more to say.

...