After one of our poetry recitals where I recited this three-sonnet poem, the group asked if I would give them a critical analysis during our workshop segment. The following is what I handed out to those in attendance.

The symbols “priest, “glorious garden” and “cemetery” in verses one and two represents Adam in the Garden of Eden. The place were his fall from grace occurred and consequently lost his chance for immortality. Therefore, he eventually would have to die and all of mankind that followed would have to suffer the same fate and thus buried in cemeteries.
In the poem it is a priest that walks in the garden. An intelligent, earthly agent of god with position and influence as well as a good life that is provided him that his station in life demands.
This is in stark contrast to poor, ignorant Adam.

In verses three and four his daily priestly meditation was interrupted by a mournful sound in the garden.

In verses five and six the priest discovers a man lying bloodied and half dead behind a blackberry bush. The symbol “blackberry bush” represents the burning bush on the mount. * Some theologians contend that the bush on the mount was a blackberry bush; However, the bible gives no clues that would confirm or deny such a belief.
Nevertheless, I thought it was necessary to use the blackberry bush because following the burning bush on the mount the Ten Commandments were born. In addition, I used the bush for another purpose: On the mount god was speaking to Moses from the burning bush. In the poem (although the priest did not know it at the time Satan was disguised as the dying man) so I had Satan talking to the priest from a bush. In fact, the entire setting of the poem is centered on this bush.
Lastly, I added the bush to show that the priest had an advantage over Adam because he was schooled in the laws set down by god; Adam was not.

Beginning with verse six after the priest reached the dying man, he kneeled to assess the stranger’s condition. At that moment the devil began to speak to the priest in ambiguous monologue which the priest did not understand. Satan then asked him to tend to his wounds and that he should not be allowed to die else other things will die with him. This furthered the Priests State of confusion where he says, sir you obviously know me but I don’t know you. Satan responded, no matter; yet I was responsible for you achieving your life’s goal.

Verse fifteen we still find the priest confused. For the first time he asked the man what his name was. Satan still posing as a dying man but completely in control of the situation begins in verse sixteen to taunt the priest. Challenging his insight.
Verses sixteen through twenty-one Satan begins to reveal himself and than boasts about his role.

Verse twenty-two he tells the priest who he is.

Verses twenty-three and four we find the priest completely shocked after the revelation.
Verses twenty-five and six we find Satan confirming his presence and admitting to his disguise. Through his cleverness he knew that the priests weakness was his compassion. He knew that the priest saw only a man bleeding to death. At first, he refused to help but Satan replied that he must help him and why he must.

Verses twenty-nine through forty-one began Satan's long discourse on why the priest must keep him alive.
He begins by telling the priest that his church and sermons and all the places of worship on earth were erected because of his presence and his infamous reputation past and present was created by people like himself. And that the lives of all these people were shaped by the few who occupy these positions of power.
Satan goes on to say that if the priest allows him to die all sin will perish with him. And if that were to happen there would be no use for the churches and shrines.
He continues to say, look beyond your life’s calling. Can you afford to sever the ties between we two? That he and those like himself would lose everything (the comforts, influence, power and position that humanity has given to him and others.
Or retain the status quo by keeping him alive.

Verse forty-two we find the priest breaking the tenth commandment by choosing to keep the devil alive. Mans second fall from grace.