Hymns of Paradise

Just for fun, I've been reading some of the poetry of St. Ephram of Syriac. It is a fun field trip into the philosophical history of the world that had despised Christ. Ephram was a theologian and Poet, famous for defending Nicene orthodoxy. Although his prolific poetry is valuable historical evidence of the evolution of "Original Sin," Some of his Eden prose is very pretty.

The assembly of saints

bears resemblance to Paradise:

in each day is plucked

the fruit of Him who gives life to all (VI.8);

and

Among the saints none is naked,

for they have put on glory;

nor is any clad in those leaves

or standing in shame,

for they have found, through our Lord,

the robe that belongs to Adams and Eve (VI.9)

Here are a few more verses:

With the blade of the sword of the cherub

was the path to the Tree of Life shut off,

but to the Peoples has the Lord of that Tree

given Himself as food.

Whereas Eden's other trees were provided

for that former Adams to eat,

for us the very Planter of the Garden

has become the food for our souls.

Here is a link to Sebastian Brock's book on St. Ephram "Hymns on Paradise"