Lord Hades

Lord Hades, by Olivia Peyton...

I welcomed you, Lord Hades, as would
An infernal Proserpina, hell-bent on leaving
The beauteous world of Light and Love -
A weary-worn child of field and meadow who
Thought perhaps the acrid stench of sulfur
Romantic, rising off the moor uncouth.
Not knowing that the pomegranate
Contained a sharpened serpent's tooth.

So when the field and meadow were laid barren,
And red juice of berry stained the soul,
The sovereign of Dis unleashed his daemons
And created smoke to hide his faults -
The torment was intense yet Proserpina
Believed in death that meant reprise -
Was a Scorpion not an Eagle -
Did the Phoenix not also rise?

The fire laid waste to all save conscience,
The water tossed on embers cruel,
Creating smoke that fogged the wasteland
Leaving all save one small root
That led your Proserpina back
To Heaven, and rekindled put-out blaze -
Nevermore will Proserpina
Venture down the Scorpion's maze.


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It would be fun to illustrate this one day.