Hades & Persephone

by: Madison Maryja Wheeler

2019-2020

Like Hades appears in the myths, you’re dark, brooding, & bearded. Like Persephone appears in the myths, I was bright eyed, innocent, & on the edge of womanhood.

You’re dark, brooding, & bearded. You kidnapped my soul. I was bright eyed, innocent, & on the edge of womanhood. I was hidden from the world.

You kidnapped my soul. Your persistence caused me to lose myself. I was hidden from the world, only tasting half freedom.

Your persistence caused me to lose myself. You didn’t save me. I was only tasting half freedom, trapped by your determined arms.

You didn’t save me. How did I grow to love you? I was trapped in your determined arms, and you gave me a crown.

How did I grow to love you? You took me from flowers to a dark kingdom. You gave me a crown, made from the immortal flowers in my bones.

You took me from flowers to a dark kingdom. What we had worked for a little while, made from the immortal flowers in my bones. I began to save myself.

What we had worked for a little while. You were the King, I began to save myself. I was the Queen,

you were the King, proud to show me in the dark. I was the Queen, proud to show you in the light,

proud to show me in the dark. Were you scared? Proud to show you in the light. Was I ready?

Were you scared, to call me the one? Was I ready, to call you the one?

It was too soon... To call you the one? It was too soon...

like Hades, you fell in love. Like Persephone, I fell in love.

Unlike Hades, you left. unlike Persephone, I’m crumbling.