Read Poem: Don’t Eat the Fruits at Uncle Hades’ House, by Rebecca Blyakher

Don’t eat the food at Uncle Hades’ house

Don’t eat the fruits at Uncle Hades’ house,
Persephone never heard anything else

Persephone was always told what to do,
… never what she wanted to do …

so when Demeter asked why,
Why did you eat the pomegranate in Uncle Hades’ house?

Persephone answered with the truth–
I wanted to get away from you, mom.
because you never let me do anything,
you constantly give me stability and water but–
i’ve lost my spark–my will to live–

i’m sorry but–

my flowers don’t bloom, mom.