Demeter Mourning Poem by Janet Budd

DEMETER MOURNING

The dust I breathe is anger from earth’s shell
It fights and bites inside my heaving chest.
I kick up clouds of acrid stinging grief.
Of pain and ire, I am the authoress.

Into the wind I wail, In fury scream
‘you have abandoned me’, you have escaped my dream
You leave no pyre to burn, no grave to mourn.
My gown of youth is ragged, soiled by tears.

My skin, smooth, fresh and fair when you were born
Is lined. My hands, once soft, are gnarled and worn.
I soothed your cries, kissed joy into your eyes
Then treacherously you leave. My spirit torn,

I walk the land, in search of you. Your cries
A mirage in my deserted heart. Sighs
Of carnage are my wake. Hollow sobs wrench
Futile despair from baron cloudless skies.

My Core, My Persephone, you drench
My mind with memories. Your innocence,
Your guileless charm spun my heart, pounding,
It burst, a star’s flight in the firmament.

You could have stayed, dear, remained denying
All fantasies a young girl dreams, sighing
Forever for whatever could have been.
Dormant wild seeds forlornly festering.

You could have wished away a woman’s dream
Of loving, being possessed by passion, freed
Of inhibition, charged with light, pleasure
Ploughed, sensation soaked, grown in full esteem.

That sacrifice could have been the measure
Of your loyalty. That unspent treasure
The price paid back to me. Oh cruel pride,
Oh vehement jealousy, diseased torture

Leave me. Springtide, heal the raw divide
Sore wretched wound, pure putrid pain inside
That cleaves Demeter from Persephone.
Winter’s fading crone now blesses Hades’ bride.

Daughter, please bring ripe fruits of earth to me
Flower of narcissi, pomegranate seed
Share the cup you drink, wine of life and death
Receive my kisses with forgiving tears.