Persephone (Wet Before Spring)

He took my body Dragged me below mud. Carried over a river, open, with hands that clawed, pulling against my navel Down with us, girl Down, down, down I am a captive No, I am a villain I have come to live a life here. Amongst the dead They watch me feast On seeds tossed into a lake I am the heroine I am his babe, his queen, his princess He is so lonely He hates the water He hates the Gods—thee god: his brother He is a marble, a marvel, a statue in black Knife-point nose, arrow-lipped monster

I open myself to the monster below His eyes lock to mine Give me permission. I nod because I can because somewhere between the garden and our bedroom A story grew A story I don’t want to tell my mother I want him because he asks for permission I want him because he is not you

His tongue is warm I lay my back down Hard stone cools the dip of my back I say: Hades! She’ll never let me go. I will make you happy, he says You are, I whisper You are.

Mother comes quickly She’s all the rage I am still naked, my legs, his arms She pulls me from our bed Hands colder than the stone Six months, that’s all I get? Six months, before I’m wet?

My husband’s brother is laughing still He gets the sky He gets to play My husband gets me for six months a year I kiss his mouth I kiss myself

There, there, mother It is not I you want It is Zeus, my father, the greatest god Or the biggest monster But the greatest god is between my legs Worshipping me Drinking the pomegranate from my fountain

There, there.

We go up, and down, together.