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Poetry | February 2012

Persephone, Marooned in the Underworld

By Sara Quinn Rivara

In the grayest month of the year, lake-fog
curdled between whitepine stands, grouse burrowed
in lacy snow-caves, I let the bird from
its cage, unshackled the houseplants, undressed

the Christmas tree. The radio crackled
into dry air: carols, disaster. The snow fell
faster. Against the window the parakeet
thumped, lay stunned on the sill; still,

I kept cleaning. Clouds gouged the western
sky as a cold front pushed over the lake: graupel
and electricity. Snow fine as ash. The little heart
kept beating, panicked. Then my son woke

from his nap, plucked the bird from the sill, tucked
it beneath his arm. Gently put it back in the cage, it’s

all right, it’s all right, he was singing. The sky
broke apart above the white field.

4 replies on “Persephone, Marooned in the Underworld”

Carlen Arnettsays:
February 5, 2012 at 7:05 pm

Yea!!! Persephone, finally a Mama. This so bugged me about the myth, that she remained so stuck. Reward for Demeter, reward for Hades, but the Lady HerOwnSelf? Ah, a son.

Reply
Emily Shearersays:
February 6, 2012 at 7:46 am

I don’t the myth of Persephone, but this beautiful poem made me want to look it up. Moreover, I loved the work for its sounds. Beautiful rhymes – disaster/ faster, sill/still – in unpredictable places. Colorful verbs. And the ending – my five year old would call it “perfecto!”

Reply
Cassie Premo Steelesays:
February 6, 2012 at 10:55 am

Loved this! I have a poetry book about mothering coming out in April called THE POMEGRANATE PAPERS, and though it’s not talked about much, in many versions of the myth, Persephone becomes a mother in the underworld. That, and the pomegranate seeds, are the reasons she has to keep going under. Great work!

Reply
Sarahsays:
February 17, 2012 at 8:12 pm

Beautiful. Line breaks used to great effect.

Reply

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