A woman shares profound knowledge with the narrator, causing them to grow intellectually but angering the gods. As knowledge spreads, the gods punish the woman for her role, beating her and tearing off her wings to transform her from an angel into a mortal. The narrator is left devastated, wiping the woman's bloodied tears, questioning why such a price had to be paid for pursuing knowledge and love.

1. The Price of Knowledge
A plethora of knowledge flowed from her golden lips
I listened thirstily to every word with every part of my body afraid I might miss a drop
Secrets poured like water
I grew and flourished just from proximity
Everything became clear like glass
And the Gods grew angry and demanded her silence
But once knowledge flows the consequences become unavoidable
Time runs with the current overtaking and spreading the infection
What once was a controlled outbreak becomes a plague of epic proportions
And I stood proud at the center of it,
Laughing defiantly at the tides of time
Mocking the Gods with my pride
But for her sins she was punished
And for my pride I was forced to bear witness frozen in time and space
To her knees she was beaten
Her tears fell like rain, love replaced now by fear
Her body bloody and bruised, eyes filled with pain, yet she looked to me for strength
I had none to give; my heart sank with disbelief, yet was bolstered by contempt
I watched in horror as her judges walked behind her each grabbing a golden wing,
And in one swift yank her siren pleas turned to shrill screaming
Blood flew with a rainbows arc as she fell to my feet
My angel,
Made mortal,
Eternity beaten from her veins
Defiance replaced now with disgrace,
Innocence replaced with pain
This is the price of knowledge
This is the price of love
And as I wiped away her bloodied tears, I ask myself “why”
Her judges replied “to all things a price”
Wunschel
10/4/03