blood-stained fateful fruit,

plump, juicy, sour, ruby seeds

i gladly swallowed...

let your seeds take root,

blossom into fleurs du mal

garden unhallowed, 

perfume me for him

anoint me with Death’s essence

now I am his Queen.

sing to me a hymn!

newborn Goddess of the night

birthed in Hell's ravine.

(Haiku series, in the voice of Persephone, of Greek mythology)

(c) Lenore, 2017

I hear the whispered conversation of fire-ants, 

feel a bee's wing brush my cheek,

taste rain still in the clouds. 

He said, "tell me about yourself." And I just didn't know what to answer. I stuttered until I finally drew some words out.

"I guess I'm smart and funny," I say.

"Those are just adjectives," he answers, "and I'm sure you can sum yourself up in more than just two words."

I sat there thinking and shook my head. All I am is empty adjectives.

He looked at me with pity in his eyes. I don't think I got the job.