Equinox passed: (a pause so slight <br />if you blink you could miss it entirely.) <br />Persephone has not yet returned to Demeter: <br />Hades is frozen with grief at her leaving, <br />slowly counting a six-month eternity to her return. <br />Earth's still trapped in winter's baleful grip <br />as Demeter exacts her cold revenge. <br />Fearing her daughter one day might choose <br />not to come back to her, she prepares <br />for a new Ice Age. Her rage would know no bounds... <br /> <br />Strange that such a time denoting hope, growth <br />& life renewed should always begin <br />with death's reluctant release; <br />how cold, how hard a mother's heart <br />towards her daughter's mate. <br />& what of eternal Girl, herself? <br />Does she long for Hades' dark bed, <br />his sensual touch, the brutish power of his maleness <br />or does she simply miss their shared <br />place in the Underworld, where <br />beauty only exists because of her? <br /> <br />Does Persephone wear a locket <br />with Hades' image within its gilded case, <br />his dark eyes burning for her alone? <br />What gift does she bring back <br />to the Lighted world above? <br />Out in pure sunlight her eyes must ache <br />adapting to such brilliance <br />pupils closing to tiny dots of black <br />mirroring his own. Yes. <br />& what gift other than herself <br />does she bring to soothe <br />her mother's icy ire? <br />Perhaps only a single piece of fruit: <br />a perfectly ripe, juicy pomegranate <br />& the bitter taste of betrayal. <br /> <br />(Copyright 3/22/2006)<br /><br />Hugh Cobb<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/persephone-s-gift/
