Paradise Least
Ten and a half thousand lines of Milton’s “Paradise Lost” condensed into a baker’s dozen of easy-to-memorize couplets. You’re welcome.
Satan said, “I will not serve.”
God replied, “You’ve got a nerve!”
Then, to demonstrate His ire,
Threw him in a lake of fire.
In the sulfur Satan woke up:
“Time to think a counterstroke up!
If I can’t be CEO
In heaven, then I’ll reign below.”
Meantime, following His plan,
God created Adam (man),
Made a garden full of blisses
Just for Adam and the missus.
Satan slithered into Eden,
Cornered Eve while she was weedin’,
Claimed he had a peck of knowledge,
Though he’d never been to college.
“Really?” Eve said. “How’d you do it?”
“Take this fruit,” he said, “and chew it.”
Juice still dribbling down her chin,
Eve got Adam too, to sin.
God, of course, who foresees all
Knew that they were going to fall—
Knew that, though it seemed distressing,
It was really all a blessing,
Since this bit of misbehavior
Let His son become man’s savior.