Eve, the Morning After - By Chloe Scarlett Kennidy

Written By: Chloe Scarlett Kennidy

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Chloe Scarlett Kennidy, writing under the name Eve, the Morning After, brings us a thought-provoking poem titled "Eve, the Morning After" as part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This entry in the poetry category captures the essence of questioning, awakening, and the pursuit of knowledge. Through vivid imagery and poignant reflections, Chloe explores themes of creation, choice, and consequence, inviting readers to reconsider the traditional narrative of the Fall from Eden.

About the Work

The poem delves into the introspective journey of Eve, presenting an evocative narrative that questions obedience, authority, and the thirst for knowledge. Through striking imagery and a contemplative tone, Chloe Scarlett Kennidy crafts a piece that challenges the reader to reflect on the nature of paradise, freedom, and the cost of enlightenment. The work reimagines the biblical story with a focus on empowerment and self-awareness, offering a fresh perspective on the age-old tale.

Eve, the Morning After

Original Submission by Chloe Scarlett Kennidy

Eve, the Morning After

Obey, and the garden keeps you; ask, and the gate is barred. I was made from a rib, a curved and borrowed thing, an afterthought fashioned while the first man slept (he did not even witness my becoming)

Everything in Eden was answered before I could wonder.

The rivers ran where they were told. The lions lay when they were told. I was told, too: ‘Of every tree you may freely eat, but not of this one.’ Never why. Only not. Paradise, I learned, is a room with no doors and a single locked drawer.

Sleep, and the lions are gentle; wake, and the thorns appear.

The serpent was the only creature in paradise that ever asked me a question (what does it say about a heaven, that the devil was the one who wanted to hear me speak?).

So I reached. Not for sin. For sight. The fruit spilled under my teeth like a secret finally confessed, juice running down my arm like the first rain, and the whole sky shuddered, and my eyes, my eyes, opened like doors no one had ever thought to unlock.

Bite, the heavens tremble; taste, the veil is torn.

Then the voice in the cool evening, the man beside me is already pointing: ‘The woman you gave me, she gave me of the tree’.

Not I chose. Not we chose. Only she.

Shame is all that is felt, fig-leaves stitched as we rot in the bareness of ourselves.

Ten thousand years of sermons have repeated his alibi and dressed me in his shame. ‘In sorrow thou shall bring forth children,’ came the verdict, and so every daughter of mine inherits the ache, the monthly red, the labor (as if pain were a tithe a woman owes simply for having wanted to know).

The morning the gates are shut behind me, and an angel stands with a flaming sword, as though I might come crawling back. I will not.

The ground is thistle and stone. The sun is harsh and honest. My feet bleed; I feel every cut, and every cut is mine.

Weep, and the garden is behind you; walk, and the world is outside. Ahead of me, nothing has a name yet.

They call it the Fall. I call it the first morning I was ever awake.

(I would rather bleed with my eyes wide open than kneel in the dark again)

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates the diverse voices and stories from writers worldwide. This prestigious event offers a platform for poets and writers to showcase their work, fostering creativity and expression across various genres. Participants from around the globe share their unique perspectives, contributing to a rich tapestry of literary art.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Chloe Scarlett Kennidy for sharing "Eve, the Morning After" with us. Your contribution to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 enriches the dialogue around timeless narratives and modern interpretations. Thank you for inviting us into your world of poetic exploration and insight.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.