Phoenix-Woman

Hades to Persephone
In this darkness
through which I move,
which is my darkness,
your corn-coloured hair,
your eyes' grey crystal,
are spies, harbingers
of light … But I have
eclipsed your brightness,
smothered you until
you are drained of bloom,
somewhere inside you
a smouldering …
I try to turn your
unhappiness into fire,
burn it against me.
But rage keeps you
strong, resistant
in my arms, is self-
renewing, like passion.
Your pain makes you
wilful, mine makes me
wait and serve you,
handling your body
like a stolen jewel
whose light I cannot
possess. This darkness
is a mask from which
you will emerge,
shining, to melt
my kingdom.