first descent
long journey down to the river
through the wilderness
crossing to the other shore Hades offers her
a pomegranate cut open
six rays of shining seeds
she touches a few ruby drops to her lips
swallows them without hesitation
Hades takes her arm and leads her
toward a mountain ablaze with fire
she tries to pull away
gaze at it directly with clear intent
as she does the fire recedes into the mountainside
trees and shrubs in full leaf cover its face
then Hades takes her to a lake with islands of ice
step into the water
with less fear this time she moves forward
the ice melts into islands of green
a creature rises from the water
with large bat-like wings and scowling face
she lurches back and the creature says in Hades’ voice
do not hate or fear me Persephone
gaze fully at my face she follows his command
the creature subsides into Hades
with gentle countenance and kindly eyes
now you know the secret
you can bring into sunlight
the first tender cotyledons
from seeds long buried
in the heart’s winter
Fran Isaacs Gilmore is a retired industrial hygienist and teacher. She writes health and safety articles for a teachers union, teaches a class in emotional healing in a state prison, and teaches yoga and meditation to people in recovery. She volunteers as a docent in a local park, and is an avid birder. She lives near Philadelphia with her husband and two cats. Her poetry has been published in numero.