The Fallen Angel

At first, the earth was vast and empty, without people 

Angels descended and greedily ate the richness of the earth 

Their bodies grew heavy and they could not fly back; their wings were broken 

Thus humanity came to exist on earth, becoming the ancestors 

So my ancestors were fallen angels 

And I am not an angel — I am purebred human 

A descendant of fallen angels 

Having passed through cycle after cycle of rebirth 

The title of angel was long since lost 

Still less do I have an angel's noble countenance or divine powers 

Therefore I too am fallen 

Why did the angels fall 

Only because they greedily craved the flavors of the earth 

From then on they lived and multiplied upon the earth 

At first their bodies were light as clouds, their minds free of desire and pure 

Later, greed and craving gradually stained them, and the two sexes, male and female, emerged 

Thus there came to be descendants and proliferation 

Generation after generation multiplied into tribes, clans, families, and nations 

Thus there were clan leaders and kings and nobles to govern the clans and states 

Human customs gradually became fixed and entrenched 

Plowing fields, weaving cloth, marriage and betrothal, wealth, sensuality, fame, food, and sleep 

The flames of desire burned fiercely, craving nothing more than the things of the human world 

Trapped in this prison, when shall I ever be an angel again?